The Price Tag on our Children - Part 2

Last week's show was so powerful, we had to do a Part II. Our children, especially minorities and those who live in poverty are being put into a position to fail by local, state, and national governments. As school punishments become harsher — and especially as they increasingly involve police — they create a pathway for students to get involved in the criminal justice system fairly early on in their lives, which can heighten the risk of delinquent or criminal activity in the future. (For one, a criminal record makes it harder to get and hold down a legal means of income.) And since black kids are disproportionately affected, this pipeline reflects the broader racial disparities in the criminal justice system as a whole.

Boys with imprisoned fathers are much less likely to possess the behavioral skills needed to succeed in school by the age of 5, a study published in Sociological Science found. Black children, who are more likely to have imprisoned fathers, are therefore more likely to be set on a bad course before they start kindergarten.

Dying to live ~ When are we going to stop using our children as puppets on social media and actually get involved in their well-being? The time we spend posting pictures of their back to school outfits on Facebook and Instagram could be used to combat social injustice and educational inequality in our society. 

Tammy Gaitor, Rodney Jordan, and special guest, Mia Moore, will discuss this hot topic on the next Live Episode of the Butterfly Evolution Show, Tuesday, October 2, 2018. Join the conversation via Blog Talk Radio or by phone at 818-691-7406.