3rd in the nation? (Mobile, Tillmans Corner: crime rate, high school, college)

[oscottscotto]

Originally Posted by midtownruth

Maybe we shold set up some apprentice schools and start training kids form an early age (not child labor or anything, like high school kids) for jobs in fields such as engineering and welding and stuff.

Being a former teacher in the MCPSS, I think this is absolutely key in crime determent and stable society-building. As much as we want to quote that every kid can be anything he or she wants to be (the whole doctor, lawyer, president thing) sometimes it is just not the case. This can be due to many factors, whether it be intelligence, motivation, or environment. Long story short - regular schooling is just not for some kids. Take the problem ones and get them in a work-ready program school. Teach them to perform technical/labor jobs and get them out there making money. Let those who want to and those who can ... pursue higher goals, good grades, and college educations. When we force kids to either accept schooling or drop out and get involved in shady activities (with no other money-making alternatives), we all lose.

Okay ... off the soapbox. This was not really Mobile-specific. Sorry.

[midtownruth]

Exactly my point, Scott.

Heck, even if you only get "real" classes up until 10th grade or something and then immediately go to specific training, I'd be ok with that. Knowing the causes of the Protestant Reformation or at what acceleration a skydiver hits terminal velocity isn't vital information for every career.

[itsalladream]

Agree, agree, agree, agree, agr...whoaaa, I wouldn't be so quick to write off history. I'm not sure if that's what you're saying or not, but I just wanted to check. My mom works at an elementary school here and they can only teach history "when the teachers can find time for it." WTF? I gave a short presentation to 4th graders about my time spent in Japan, and the kids at this inner-city school were totally absorbed in what I was saying. It's that kind of stuff that will get them to want to do something other than gang-banging are car-jacking. Teach them about the world around them.

[oscottscotto]

And off-subject, I wish history classes would focus more on how are our government works too (technicalities of bills, amendments, etc).

[wizzy_4556]

I agree most of the trouble comes from Prichard and seems we got a lot of transplants from New Orleans. I would be curious how many of our crimes have been from transplants - they never tell. Prichard has its own police force and it looks like they are "trying" to clean it up? But, appears to have some corruption. The Grand Bay area is very rural but mostly that South area toward Dauphin Island and Tillmans Corner have rural meth labs and prostitution. The DI locals are very rural and just pretty rough. Most of the deadly crimes have been domestic.

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by wizzy_4556

I agree most of the trouble comes from Prichard and seems we got a lot of transplants from New Orleans. I would be curious how many of our crimes have been from transplants - they never tell. Prichard has its own police force and it looks like they are "trying" to clean it up? But, appears to have some corruption. The Grand Bay area is very rural but mostly that South area toward Dauphin Island and Tillmans Corner have rural meth labs and prostitution. The DI locals are very rural and just pretty rough. Most of the deadly crimes have been domestic.

Ha, they can't even pick up trash or run their own water system, I doubt they'll have any luck fighting crime. The Prichard Police Dept is a joke.

[midtownruth]

Yeah, I don't know how much faith I would put in Prichard's police force.. Who knows, though?

I'm not saying history isn't important and should be written off. And yes, kids should definitely be taught about the world around them (whether that be other culutures, current events, our government, local history) but I was just saying that if there are some kids who just can't get it (and I think some really can't) then they shouldn't have to drop out, especially if what they are learning isn't that relevant (eg when the Reconquista happened or something). At that point, after becoming nice and well-rounded, send them into apprentice schools. Not for the academic kids though, the ones that may become doctors, lawyers, etc. Hope that clears it up slightly.

[TNTranspant]

Ruth,
I usually agree with you but on this ... nope.
The dumbing down of our country has gone about far enough. We have to hold our youth more accountable and stop making excuses for them. It works worldwide and it will work here. Here in the US we make excuses for and coddle failures. That is what a drop out is. Hard plain truth. Our "Pop Culture" is at the root of this in that it makes our kids thikn you don't have to work to succeed. History is our greatest teacher. Everyone has heard about the repeating nature of it. We repeat mistakes when we forget the lessons of history and if we don't teach it because some kids are to lazy to do some home work and study we are a lost cause.
just my .02

[oscottscotto]

TNT, I definitely agree with your sentiment ... but would like to add that it is not necessaily "dumbing down" to teach some kids a hard work ethic and then let them work a manual trade - and to teach the rest of the kids a hard work ethic and let them go to college and work towards a professional job.

What is wrong steering the ones who do not desire to be professionals in the right direction in a trade-school? Is that not better than letting them bring us all down by just letting them go? Our economy depends on both manual labor and professional labor (both of which can be trained). I say let's stop pretending that all kids want to grow up to be doctors/lawyers/professionals. They all don't need to be anyway. A mechanic, electrician, etc are all-american jobs too.

[Okiefrombama]

Here's my .02

I absolutely agree that a lower dropout rate would help Mobile. A lot of these kids are too worried about their own family's survival to worry as much as they need to about school. There is no excuse for not trying in school, but I'm just trying to be realistic here. I excelled in school, but I had quite a few friends who had school on the bottom list of their worries (My high school was in a higher crime area in a city). A lot of what I am came from my support system at home. There are many, though, who are just not "school" people. I definitely think job training should become high on a list of priorities for the city of Mobile. With Mobile's high ranking on Forbes.com for development, we should have more jobs coming in (eventually).

A lot of these crimes are committed by the 18-25 age group. There has to be a point where either a dropout or a recent high school graduate has to say "How am I going to make a living?" without adequate training. Sadly the answer for them sometimes is through illegal means.

I also think more development downtown will help. I read somewhere that a city councilman noted less crime in his district when some urban decay in the neighborhoods was remedied. Anyone know who this is?

And to Midtownruth: Know of a place in Midtown I could rent for around $600? Nicer area please! Last time I tried I was sent to the "fringe" of the gentrification. One reason I'm across the bay lol