Many critics say that a lack of school funding is leading to many of the problems that students face (Photo Credit: Katerina Holmes)
Throughout the city of Houston and beyond, news reporters have bombarded the public with images of teen takeovers.
Furthermore, many people have certain dates in history etched into their brains because they can remember where they were and what they were doing when they learned about specific school shootings via the media.
Unfortunately, if a person asks a regular citizen what the problem is, many will blame the children themselves or the parents.
Even some teachers have written off certain students because of who they are and their backgrounds.
Therefore, is it surprising that some teens resort to violence and teen takeovers when many of their elders have given up on them before their life truly begins?
To address the problems facing today’s youth, Houston Community Media launched a series to get to the root of the issues and, hopefully, find answers for the next generation before it is too late.
Texas state Rep. Penny Morales Shaw joined Houston Community Media executives to discuss how funding and politics are playing a huge part in many of the problems facing today’s youth.
Rep. Shaw understands how difficult it is for parents to raise their children and provide them with a good education because she raised her four children while balancing her legal career.
Her unique experience gives her empathy for parents struggling to make ends meet while hopefully giving their children a leg up in life.
Unfortunately, many parents cannot be as active at the schools where their children attend because they work long hours, which makes them extra dependent on good educators who have their children’s best interests.
To help alleviate some of the struggles faced by working parents, Shaw files the Paid Family Leave Act in Austin, Texas, every congressional session.
She said, “Family is the unit and basis of society.”
On April 26, 2023, Sergio Martinez Beltran of KUT News reported, “A measure that would establish paid parental leave for full-time workers in Texas has stalled in the state House of Representatives.
“Rep. Penny Morales Shaw, D-Houston, told The Texas Newsroom that she was promised her bill would be heard by the House International Relations and Economic Development Committee.
“However, Morales Shaw said committee chair Rep. Angie Chen Button, R-Richardson, has since walked back her commitment…
“The measure has bipartisan support, with multiple Republican representatives listed as co-authors.
“Button’s office didn’t return multiple requests for comment. When approached by The Texas Newsroom on the House floor this week, Button declined to comment.
“Under House Bill 2604, the Texas Workforce Commission would be required to create a paid parental leave program.
“Employers in Texas would be required to contribute an “amount equal to 0.15 percent of all wages paid by the employer during the calendar year” to the Texas Family Fund Program.
“The money collected by the program would be used to give new parents up to $1,000 in replacement wages per week of absence.”
Another problem facing Texas families, according to Shaw, is that the Lone Star State has not raised wages in 10 years.
With inflation and the cost of living going up, parents are facing even more burdens when it comes to providing for the next generation, while guiding them to make better decisions as young people.
If a parent must work multiple jobs to keep a roof over their family’s head and feed them, their children have more time on their own without adequate parental supervision, which could lead to mischief and misbehavior at school.
Shaw believes that the government should attempt to strengthen families and improve their quality of life.
While speaking to Houston ethnic media leaders, she questioned why young people are in the criminal justice system.
Generations ago, unruly children would go to the principal’s office or in-school suspension.
Nowadays, school police officers are putting elementary school children in handcuffs for minor school infractions.
Therefore, legislation has been introduced to raise the age of students who can be handcuffed.
Despite what some believe is overpolicing schools, Shaw knows that safety remains a major concern at local schools in Houston.
At Eisenhower High School in Aldine Independent School District in Houston, many of the students go to school in fear of gang members.
They are scared to defend themselves or speak out because the older relatives of their classmates, many of whom are also gang members, could assault them off campus and in the community.
But Shaw believes school districts have the tools, technology and ability to protect students from violence on campus.
Shaw believes that one of the main things that is failing Texas’ youth is that public schools are underfunded.
She said that over 100 public schools in Texas are closing.
Furthermore, many after-school programs are closing.
As many educators can attest, burdensome testing has prevented teachers from providing the one-on-one mentorship and care that many in previous generations benefited from.
Decades ago, it was not uncommon for teachers to ask students to stay after class so they could discuss what was happening in their lives and provide guidance.
But now, Shaw said, “Schools are on an austerity diet.”
The politician said that schools are now given the bare minimum.
Therefore, she believes that giving more funding to schools would solve many problems.
Shaw said that there is something that ethnic media leaders can do to help young people become productive young adults.
She said that journalists need to tell politicians about what their readers, viewers or listeners endure.
And on the other hand, politicians need to tell journalists what they are doing quietly in the background to make a difference in the lives of young people and their families.
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