MY DAY: EDUCATION IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS

By Dr. Ester Davis

As Mistress of Ceremonies this weekend at the Dallas Area Real Estate Brokers (DAREB) Women’s Council Scholarship Breakfast, Carla Ranger, one of the prominence honorees, started her acceptance words with ‘education is everybody’s business’. I have heard her do that on several occasions. At another unrelated event, the grand opening of MJ’s Beauty Academy she opened with the same line.

It’s easy to talk to a child about school, anywhere, any occasion, at any time. But with education now in crisis mode, we should all take up Carla’s ‘motto’ and practice it. It is just not acceptable anymore to just ask a child, how is school or what school do you go to. Go two steps further with the child. First of all, insist that they talk to you. Mention to them to speak up when talking to you. And, my favorite,” look at me”, when you are talking to me. Very simple stuff that is absolutely painless. It is most important that this practice be done from caring adults to children often. Education is everybody’s business.

Our children are not out of control. Our children are not all bad. Stop saying that. Our children will obey. Actually, only a small percentage of children are unruly. A greater percentage are un-churched and that should be upsetting and alarming to all Christians. The other wider margin, while not up to par, are indeed their grades in science, engineering, math and technology. Study habits are at the top of this list.

I challenge you to try this exercise this Sunday at church. How many of your children at church do you know by name, grade and test scores? How many do you make an effort to talk to after church, after the game? An intelligent parent will appreciate it, especially those that know it “still takes a village to raise a child”. I firmly believe that if, first, the ‘christian network of believers’ took a genuine interest in all children on a daily dedicated basis, you would make a difference. And the beautiful part. . . you would see it. I am Ester Davis, Greater New Zion Baptist Church, 2210 Pine Street, Dallas.