I began teaching an after-school enrichment program in creative writing. This school is known for achieving some of the top test scores in the state due to the great teachers and parental involvement.
During open house, all after-school enrichment programs were able to set up in the school gymnasium to introduce their program to parents and students. There were many activities in which to choose, including karate, art, drama, guitar, chess, and Legos.
Once registration opened, I began to receive the application forms and payment via US Postal service. I couldn't help but notice the names of the students, most I could not pronounce. On the first day of my workshop, my suspicions were confirmed. The majority of the class were either Chinese or Indian.
The creative writing class went great and the kids were awesome. I pride myself on my ability to relate to all nationalities by showing care and enthusiasm for the subject matter. But I couldn't help wonder where were the Joe Smiths and the Tameka Walkers.
Our children's education, at times, seems to take a back seat to sports, dance, and drama. It is my hope that we would create a balance between sports and educational activities in order to prepare our children for the future.
What are your feelings regarding this balance?
Terri Whitmire
Author, Writing Instructor
Author Terri Whitmire shares her commentary on her writing journey, hot topics, and things that effect our community. Read her latest books and listen to audio recordings at www.terriwhitmire.com
