People are making their own childrens conduct and education in Rockford a racial issue, and blaming the schools. This community, and yes, seemingly the “Black Community” is putting the blame and burden everywhere in this issue, except where it belongs.

These things, education and conduct, begin in the home. Parents, how are you raising your children? What are YOU teaching them. Are you making sure that they understand their schoolwork? And, if you can’t help them, because of your own (or lack of) education, are you making a phone call and checking into the FREE tutoring programs?

The decisions that our children grow up to make are based in what they see, hear, and learn at home.

I grew up destitute, and my parents couldn’t help me with my homework. But, I got the help that I needed, graduated high school, and joined the military. I took college correspondence courses while in the military, and then went to community college when I got out (while I worked to support myself)and earned my Associate’s Degree. I then applied to a 4-year school, and, while working to support myself, received my Bachelor’s Degree. I am now working toward my Masters Degree (while working and raising my family).

I didn’t sit and expect society to do everything for me. I did what every man or woman, regardless of color, should do. I worked hard to do the best that I can. Not just for me, but for my family.

It isn’t society’s responsibility to work hard so that you can have all that you want handed to you. An education can be gotten anywhere in any school. You just have to work hard to get it, instead of sitting around and complaining that it isn’t just being handed to you, and life’s too hard because of the color of your skin.

Be a bigger man or woman than that, and apply yourself an work hard. Quit complaining that life isn’t easy. Successful people are successful for a reason, and it isn’t because they sit around waiting for handouts.

And, if it weren’t for those people, the people who do sit around and whine/cry because life’s too hard, and they think that society owes them because of that wouldn’t be getting all of the handouts that they already do.

Segregation is over. The school district is drowning in debt. Let’s quit taking the easiest shortcut, and trying to find an easy target to blame for our own laziness, and do the right thing. Otherwise, we’ll never get anywhere.

There’s no substitution for hard work and laziness.