Class Wars.

Here’s some interesting information I’d like to bring to your attention.

I work at an after school program, in North East San Diego with statistics that look just like this:

This SchoolState Average Students participating in free or reduced-price lunch program¹8%51% English language learners²4%24%

Now, I don’t mind that but we do have a budget that provides for our wii, ddr, and plasma screen tvs.

Also, our computers…..our technology is endless and mind boggling.

Now: I subbed at another school in a more “urban” area today. In east San Diego.

These are that schools statistics:

This SchoolState Average Students participating in free or reduced-price lunch program¹91%51% English language learners²42%24%

The website I found this information and statistics (the one I look up every school I go to beforehand) is greatschools.com

One review board it says, ” Its poor in materials, but rich in spirit”—exactly

These wonderful little humans were happy just being involved and being part of something.

I was touched and moved by the diversity here only in the same place where I have lived for so long, a group undiscovered, underfunded, and neglected.

Listen to me, My staff has 5 people, we’re hiring one more.

We do have 125 kids on a daily schedule, however, we have more than enough resources for all of them.

How can we complain about education being cut when we have so much money poring in to fund our plasma screen tvs?

How can the kids in southeast San Diego work side by side with the kids from north east San Diego when they’re 20 without a classic prejudice….They are from the “wrong side of the tracks.” Right?

How can I serve the rich when my heart is for the poor?

How can I communicate to the rich how the routine they have developed today will only leave them ALONE tomorrow?

When is the time where we mix these schools together and allow the children from less fortunate families to have bathrooms with doors? (You might be thinking…’what exactly does she mean by this?’)

Challenge: Go to any inner-city school and go to the bathroom. One thing I have seen every time is the lack of privacy in the bathroom. Some schools don’t even have doors. The vandalism is criminal, the toilets are old and need repair, or need to be replaced. Note-most schools have nice doors that open and close properly and soap in their bathroom—one thing you might not catch in more urban areas.

My heart is always torn come this time…and if you know me than you understand how deeply I feel about youth and how deeply I feel about my community.

Pray for perserverence for our youth. Resiliance. Pray for their mentors. Pray for the their teachers. Pray for their parents.

and pray for the rich….because mostly we all need humility.