Written by Sue Wright
Do you remember the kids in grade school who really couldn’t read, or spell, or do math? Reading out loud was a nightmare for them (and for everyone else with an ounce of compassion!). Some kids had truly low abilities, some just missed way too much school and were hopelessly behind in their lessons. By high school these were the kids who often dropped out.
Where did they go?
After floating around for a few years, some end up in programs like Women In Charge. Helping a young mother learn to read and do basic math may be the most important work we do. We want high school equivalency – but just plain literacy is crucial to functioning in the world. Being able to read a job application, a bus schedule and having some understanding of money turns a helpless individual into a person who has a bit of a chance.
At Women In Charge, we have been encountering more women who need the most basic help. This is not entirely a question of ability, we are continually surprised by lack of exposure to what we would call common knowledge. Where is the Pacific Ocean? What is the difference between a state and a city? What was the Holocaust?
Every one of the staff at Women In Charge must be ready to field questions and comments, without a flash of judgmental surprise. “Even if you are tired, you still need to get your kids up and send them to school.”
“A six-month-old baby isn’t being naughty when he cries.” “The government is not currently planting chips in all the citizens, let’s check another news source.” “You didn’t get the job because you were late for the interview – yes – it really matters.”
Not every student will earn their High School Equivalency, but with so much to learn about the way the world works we feel confident our time with our participants and their children changes their lives for the better. And maybe our students’ kids won’t turn into “that kid.”
Sometimes we see students who, if they had enough time, really could earn their high school equivalency, but life gets in the way. A job may be needed to pay the bills. Sometimes a student loses her housing and it is just too hard to make it to school when you are looking for a place to stay every night. These students gain as much knowledge as they can while they are with us, and it is very common for us to see them again a few years later when they have time to recommit to their education.
