Back to school
THE LONG SUMMER break will come to an end tomorrow as children return to area classrooms for another year of learning.
Students have wonderful educational opportunities in Emporia. With experienced teachers, small class sizes and vast curriculum choices, the opportunities for student success are abundant.
But the real question becomes whether students will seize the educational opportunities or not.
Although students’ attention should be on classes and studying, it will likely center on who is wearing what, who is dating whom and other unimportant things.
If there is one fault about our education system, it is that there’s too much freedom and education is not taken as seriously as it should be.
Students are easily distracted by things that don’t really matter, and most have a hard time understanding how the effort they invest in studying will matter to their future when selecting a career or college choice. It is those choices that will depend on what type of life they will live.
TV helps glamorize get-rich-quick lifestyles for children. But most adults know life is really about lots of hard work and the easy success stories are rarities.
This year, school districts and teachers will do their part to provide quality education. Now it is up to parents to do their part.
Parents need to keep their children focused on learning and help their children understand what that education will mean to their future.
Chris Walker
Editor & Publisher