At a recent Work-Study by the Federal Way School Board the Board learned that:

"Those parents who are involved get more out of the educational system than children whose parents are less involved or not involved at all."

When asked about what the School Board should do about this, there was no response!

We have learned from Finland and Singapore that indifference to the upbringing of children is a great recipe for poor, or non-existent success in education.

The Washington Department of Corrections predicts prison capacity needs by third and fourth grade achievement levels!

In Ohio, where problems cannot be that different from here, several school districts have embarked upon a very aggressive "engagement" policy when they encounter evidence of low involvement levels by parents or students.

Massachusetts, considered by many to have the best public education in America, also actively "engages" any parents that seem to be neglecting the education of their children.

Let's take a look at a perfect example of how this doesn't work in Washington.

"Free breakfasts" are offered to any student who seems to need this. This is thought, properly, to enhance the student's performance in school, and presumably is evidence that the child did not get a breakfast prior to coming to school.

There are several reasons why this might be the case.

The household could be so disorganized that breakfast just doesn't happen, the household could not have the finances to buy breakfast food, the household could be without a parent to prepare breakfast, there may not be a "household" in the sense that most of us would envision.

Does anyone believe that any of these situations would suggest that "parent involvement" will be adequate for success in school?

Instead of mobilizing all of the possible social services, as Ohio schools do, to investigate, and attempt to improve the situation, our school systems just "feed them!" By doing this another level of reliance upon others is created that in many cases is not part of any solution.

One of the local talk show's hosts often refers to many of those in poverty as "ones who have made poor choices."

I think that there is evidence to support this in many cases.

Feeding the children of these 'adults" a free breakfast may be necessary, but this should be only a small part of the intervention that our community needs to take if we are not to perpetuate, and increase, the numbers that the Department of Corrections looks at.

American education has been quite passive, and compassionate, about dealing with children who are living in situations that almost guarantee a pathway to more poverty.

Instead of creating alliances with social service organizations that address these situations, American education presumes that "if we had more money," we could address this situation in a 6.5-hour day for 180 days a year.

A leading conservative, a few years ago, suggested that orphanages need to return to our society.

In the past these were frowned upon, but one has to wonder if they didn't do at least as well as the results we are having today with disengaged parents.

It is clear that the Foster Home system is completely overloaded.

As a tutor of kids in some poverty I have seen some pretty bad situations where a well run orphanage would seem like a step up.

Where is the communities' concern for the upbringing of children?

When is intervention required? I think more often than it is now.

The "Becca Bill" regarding truancy is toothless, and our courts seem to be helpless in this as well.

Laws, without enforcement that is meaningful to the community, are not the solution. One only has to read the paper where I read of the apprehension of a "no bail warrant," and successive warrant violators to understand that observance of laws in this state has become "optional" for a significant portion of our population.

Is it time for our community to become more responsible for our youth?

Graffiti, car theft, and other youthful crimes abound.

At least one community organization has tried to offer help, and was told by the district administration that "achievement" was "solely the responsibility of the schools!"

Hillary Clinton's book, "It takes a Village," is certainly a great motto for "what it will take" to improve education.

It doesn't matter if you like Hillary or not, she is certainly right if we are unwilling to hold parents responsible for the upbringing of their kids.

Instead of a performing arts center do we need a youth containment center where youth are encouraged to adopt new lifestyles? The Department of Corrections is checking.

Taxpayers beware!

Charlie Hoff is a former member of the Boarwd of Education for Federal Way Public Schools. His weekly column will appear in upcoming issues of the Federal Way News and online at www.federalwaynews.net.