Thursday, April 2, 2009

Thing 4--Waiting on the World to Change…

The world has changed. And where was I? Asleep at the keyboard? I thought I was keeping up… I guess not! But learning about Web 2.0 technologies is giving me a chance to truly be a part of the 21st century. My Blogline account is helping me manage information. I was never one to 'surf the net', because I didn't know where to go or what to do. Having a Blogline account lets all the information come to me. All the information and news flowing into one site is great, especially for those of us who don’t have time to hit every website we’re interested in.

With the world changing the way it is, it makes me wonder how the next generation will fair. There are those who will do well, but there are those who will not. They will be so lost and left behind.
I work in the criminal justice system and yesterday, I saw nine or ten girls, maybe middle school or freshmen in high school age, in court at around 10 am. My first thought was why aren’t they in school? Why are they down here watching Billy Ray’s or BoBo the Fool’s trial? They need to be in school preparing themselves for the workforce and the technologies to come, not supporting someone whose future is questionable.

I, who have computer skills, am overwhelmed and lost by all the new changes. Where is that going to leave those who don't get an education? How do we reach kids and make them understand how important education is to their future? To our future? These children are going to be the ones taking care of us in our old age. They are our future artists, musicians, poets and writers... readers for that matter. How can they create or under what we write, if they are limited in their knowledge. How can we help them become excited about their future and the ever changing world? There is so much out there for them and they just don’t know it or don’t get it or don't care. Whatever it is-- it'd sad and very frightening for the rest of us.
What can we do? We can become more involved with the children in our lives and the children we come in contact with. We have to help them see that life has value and is worth living. That knowledge is the key to their sucess.
Question:
What can we do as writers to help the next generation of readers succeed in life?

2 comments:

  1. Walter Dean Meyers,
    Chris Chrutcher,
    M.T. Anderson,
    Laurie Halse Anderson. Join
    them and others in writing about what you see as a wake up call to those of us
    who slumber.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Having a 7 year old daughter I wonder a lot about the younger generation. Because I'm from Detroit I think about the children there as well. When you hear about the corruption in the school system its sickening. Its almost as if the children don't have a chance. Inevitably I ask myself is there something I could be doing to help. There probably is, but I haven't pursued an avenue yet. Just too lazy I guess or I don't see how whats going on in the Detroit school system directly affects me.

    ReplyDelete