The link from education to the economy, health and crime is easy to see, and Blueprint Mississippi 2011 makes this compelling case with fresh data. As a teacher at one of Jackson’s public high schools, I work mostly with low-income students, and I believe education is the best way to intercept the cycle of poverty. Yet even innovative policy solutions will only make incremental change without the grassroots support of the communities they seek to serve.
By looking for answers in education, we are counting on students to lift our communities and our economy. In the face of economic and social obstacles, this is a hefty burden for an adolescent to carry. If they are to succeed, students need support and guidance from day one. The Jackson Free Press pointed out that children need preparation even before kindergarten. This should include not just a large vocabulary, but also behavioral, emotional and moral instruction.
Students like mine may not get such instruction at home. It truly takes a village. Regardless of whether there are two, one or no parents around, children of all ages need to see strong role models in their community. These role models must be in school, in church, in businesses and on the streets.
In teaching, we say “show, don’t tell.” For students to know what they are capable of, we must show them what people who share their skin color and gender and who came from their neighborhood have accomplished.
Too often, this message of empowerment is drowned out by violent, materialistic and divisive distractions. Many organizations, like the United Way and Young Life, already work with students to pave their road to success, but the kids only benefit if they choose to engage. With so much riding on our students’ choices, Jackson needs a united, grassroots movement that can reach every child. This movement will invoke the key to Janice Parker’s life story: “leading by example.” It will show children, from day one, what they are capable of achieving and how to achieve it.
—Alexander Barrett
Jackson
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The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.
