President, Pop Star and MVP Push Importance of Education
A commentary by Mike Bennett
United Church of God editorial content manager
Posted August 27, 2009
 In
a television back-to-school event to air on 22 cable networks at the
same time Sept. 8, President Barack Obama joins singer Kelly Clarkson
and 2009 NBA MVP LeBron James in highlighting the importance of education.
Get
Schooled also tells the story of three professionals who
assist these superstars.
President Obama explains to the viewers: "...education is the
key to living out your dreams. So as this new school year begins, I
urge you to set goals for your own education: to study hard and get
involved in your school; to try new things and find something you're
passionate about. Don't be afraid to ask questions and ask for
help when you need it. That's how you learn. That's how
you get ahead. And that's how our nation will get ahead—by
ensuring that every American gets a world class education...."
Too many drop out
The news reports show the need for this presidential pep talk. With
only 72 percent of American high school students graduating with their
class (a lower percentage than the Czech Republic—85 percent—and
Slovakia—73 percent), "far too many young people enter adulthood
unprepared for college, career and life," said Allan Golston.
He's with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which helped
develop the program.
The statistics are worse in America's 50 largest cities. The
graduation rate there is only 53 percent, with cities like Detroit and
Indianapolis in the 25 to 30 percent range!
"In a global economy, the single most important issue facing
our country is an educated work force," said Mayor Bill White
of Houston, Texas. "Somebody who lacks a high school education
will have lifetime earnings that are only 60% of those of somebody with
that education. That's just the impact on personal income. There
are the social costs as well" (Gary Fields, "The
High School Dropout's Economic Ripple Effect," The
Wall Street Journal, Oct. 21, 2008).
Estimates by America's Promise are that cutting the number of
dropouts in half would produce $45 billion in new tax revenue. Other
research predicts that increasing high school completion rates by just
1 percent for all men ages 20 to 60 would save $1.4 billion a year in
costs associated with crime.
People who care
I was inspired to hear that Mayor White doesn't just talk about
the problem. He started a program called Reach Out to Dropouts, where
he and other volunteers visit the homes of students who haven't
returned to school. "Reach Out has recaptured more than 5,500
dropouts since it started in 2004," reported The Wall Street
Journal.
I also applaud the president and the others involved in the Get
Schooled program for taking the message directly to the students
on popular networks aimed at young people.
Too often the focus has been on a blame game for the problems in American
schools. Teachers and parents receive much of the blame, but too little
of the credit when things go right against the daunting odds. But ultimately
the students themselves must take ownership of their education, both
in school and throughout life.
If you are a student or a dropout, I encourage you to consider your
decisions, to make the harder choices now that will produce success
later. Our free magazine for young people, Vertical
Thought, has great articles on education, goals, success and
much more. And you can find more helpful tips in our free booklet Making
Life Work.
If you are a parent, I encourage you to do all you can to inspire,
coax and cajole your child to stick with it, even through the hard times.
Parenting isn't easy!
As author Elizabeth Stone put it, "Making the decision to have
a child—it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have
your heart walking around outside your body" (quoted in Teachers
Are Special, p. 17, compiled by Nancy Burke, 1996).
 For more personal help I encourage you to download, request, or read
online our free, informative article "What
Is Your Children's Future?"—and our free booklet Marriage
and Family: The Missing Dimension.
Related Resources
How Can You Help Your Child Succeed?
As a parent, you should realize that your children's future will be
shaped by someone. But will that someone be you or others? Too many
parents allow the harmful influences of society to be the primary shaper
of their children's future. Your children need good parental attention.
What can you do to help your child succeed?
What Is Your Children's Future?
Is the future of our children left to chance and circumstance? Their
future is in your hands more than you think.
10 Practical Ways to Teach Your Children Right Values
Most parents recognize the need for their children to have right values.
But how do you teach them? Here are practical pointers parents can use
to instill those standards, starting today!
Get Smart About Education
"Why do they make me learn all this dumb stuff? I never learn anything
important at school!" Have you ever felt that way? Is your education
out of your control? What if there were fun and interesting ways to
discover the knowledge and wisdom you'll need to get where you want
to go?
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