Got Issues

1. Highway 36 bridge, Lumberjack Days, Washington County Fair, Stillwater lift bridge, school closings, new schools, school additions, school referendums, moving 9^th graders to high school, moving 6^th graders to junior high, road construction, school zoning, taxes, business closures.

2. Tuition costs, book cost, student loans, class availability, completion percentage, job placement rate, State Capitol renovations, Police shooting, high taxes, political division, road work, traffic, cost of gas, environmental impact of pollution, health insurance costs.

3. Will I be able to retire at all? Will I be able to help my children through college? What will happen with health care over the next 8 years? Will we ever be able to curb the National Debt and bring spending back into line? What do we expect from our Police officers? How do we create impactful change in the political arena?  

4. I am taking math and English this semester as I work toward becoming a mechanical engineer. Ethics is a hot topic right now in the engineering community. An example of an engineering ethical dilemma would be showing too much preference to certain vendors which takes valve from an owner. This happens a lot in school districts. Another couple hot topics in the engineering community are refrigerant phase out dates and increasing demand for better performing buildings.

 

5. Raising children is tough enough as it is without having to think about how I am going to help them make it through college. Nonetheless, there is no mercy as a parent when it comes to topics like these, so pressing on in relentless pursuit of a solution is critical. Growing up I was told by my parents and teachers alike that I needed to attend a good university and that community college was really not an option. I started to think that there was something wrong with the people that attended community college, as if it existed only to serve the needs of the kids who weren’t “good” enough to universities, and of course, the dreaded adult students! Now here I sit an “adult student” at a community college, this isn’t my first time, nor will it be my last and I can’t help but wonder, why did I ever feel that way? Yes, I did attend a university for a couple of years, but it just wasn’t for me. I got lost in the shuffle and end the end realized I just wanted to go to work; I was tired of school as the only focus in my life. This research paper could not have come at better time I am extremely curious to find out whether or not others are finding benefits in attending community college in lieu of the university life? And, I would like to know more about the costs of community college versus a traditional university and whether or not the extra cost of the university life is justified through a lifetime of earnings.

Thanks,

Justin R. Strain

"Why Bother?"

Explore

The immediate and long term effects of child abuse and neglect are overwhelming, we must put a stop to this at all costs. There are numerous studies and examples available from credible sources that point out the crippling effects of child abuse and neglect. Children that suffer abuse and/or neglect often times grow up and continue the cycle; it is very difficult to break the chains of abuse once it starts. Abused and neglected children often times continue to suffer throughout their lives because of the psychological effects the abuse takes on their body, mind and soul. Long term outcomes of child abuse and neglect are homelessness and mental illness which lead to poor overall health and premature death. Children are vulnerable, helpless and reliant upon parents to provide and shelter them from the evils of this world; they deserve the opportunity to grow up happy and healthy so that they can contribute to society in a productive manner. No child should ever be abused or neglected and our society needs to step up and fight this horrible problem.

Companion: You don’t think you could ever really do anything about it, do you?

My Response: I absolutely do! One child at a time, even if means we just try and help all of the broken children it is better than doing nothing. We can provide the resources and support to help them get strong and break the chains that bind them.

Companion: How will you be able to keep it together seeing all these abused kids? You are going to make yourself depressed.

My Response: You raise a very valid question; it will be tough that is undeniable. But, sometimes we need to sacrifice parts of ourselves so that others may live. I am willing to trade parts of who I am if means that they have a chance to live a happy and healthy life, that sounds fair to me. Obviously, this type of work is not for everyone, but we need to increase the number of people who are willing to help. I believe that the loving relationships we can help build will fill the voids created by our sacrifice.

Companion: There will always be abused and neglected children, you can’t help them all.

My Response: Sure, but to do nothing is not an option. Someone needs to be the voice for these children.  How can we in good conscience not directly or indirectly help this cause that would be pure madness.

Reflect

The Problem: Child abuse and neglect

What Should Be Done?

Funded by Federal, State and Local Government we need to mobilize a new team of law enforcement agents that specialize in nothing but the prevention of child abuse and neglect. This effort would be launched specifically targeting the problem at the local level with agents present in each city throughout the country. In addition, individuals would be incentivized on multiple levels to turn in (providing evidence) anyone who they know of that is abusing a child in their area.  The incentives would be creative, for example the Good Samaritan who turns someone in could use their reward to sponsor the abused child. Working in conjunction with the child abuse prevention agents would be a local agency focused only on tracking the movements of children in the community, especially high risk children. Their function would be to make sure that children are receiving the education, food, shelter and medical attention that they need to be productive. This agency would have the means to provide individuals in need a permanent place to live, and the resources to improve their lives, multifaceted assistance would be available for as long as required. Currently we have outdated and underfunded agencies trying to tackle this problem. We need to “drill down” on this problem at the local level and better fund this mission. We need to have a greater presence in every community sending a clear message that child abuse and neglect will not be tolerated. Punishment for violators will be swift and severe with children never going back to abusive family members.

 

https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/can/impact/