By Eric Johnson – Op/Ed for Dallas South News

The fact that most 9th graders do not graduate from a Dallas High School should alarm all Texans.  Dallas’ dropout rate has short and long term consequences on a scale from bad to disastrous.  Fewer high school graduates translates directly into higher crime, more drug abuse, a less educated workforce, lower home ownership, and an economic outlook that is far from what it could be.

That’s how it impacts us as a society; the real tragedy is the lifetimes of thousands of good people who will be forced to live without the hope of a better life for themselves and their children.  The causes of this problem are many and complex.  There is no silver bullet that will tackle all the contributing factors, but that doesn’t mean we can ignore the problem.

The solution to this crisis is a multi-faceted approach that turns all of the stakeholders into advocates for our most precious resources – our youth. Students, parents, educators, religious organizations, businesses, non-profits, all levels of government, and each of us as individuals can play a critical role.

I will discuss the solutions starting with what we can do as individuals, since the role of students,  parents, and educators is already well understood.  Regardless of whether or not you have children in the DISD your future depends on those children.

I have mentored students at Lincoln High School and C.F. Carr Elementary School in West Dallas , a time intensive commitment that may not be an option for some, but it is definitely an option for more than are presently mentoring.  Others can contact local principals and find out if they need any supplies or volunteer work on special projects.  Just as important and often neglected is participation in our school board elections.  Pay attention to candidates seeking to run our schools.  Voter turnout for those elections is beyond pathetic.

If you want to exponentially increase the impact and reach of your involvement then make it a group effort.  What organizations are you a part of in your life?  Do you have a job?  Do you go to Church? Are you in a neighborhood or homeowners association, volunteering for a non-profit or participating in politics? These are avenues for putting together a team of people with diverse approaches to solving the problem.

There are nonprofits like the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dallas and Camp Fire USA whose after school programs are crucial to tackling the dropout rate.  Not every child has a stable family home where doing well in school is getting the focus it deserves.  Camp Fire puts after school programs in apartment complexes where many latchkey children live.  We must have something for children to say yes to when they say no to drugs and gangs.

In addition to non-profits, community organizations like churches and neighborhood organizations can also play an important role in supporting the schools in their area.  In Dallas we have a great example of what can happen when neighbors decide to become dedicated partners with the schools.  At Bayles Elementary School the involvement of the people in the Claremont neighborhood and the Ferguson Road Initiative helped make it an exemplary school.

The business community has a vital role to play as well.  Think for example about how Target or Kroger dedicate a portion of sales to nearby schools.  That added revenue can fund tutoring programs, infrastructure or perhaps even new computer purchases.  In addition trade associations like the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association offer scholarships as well as a curriculum for students who may be interested in making a career in the restaurant business.  We need to expand these sort of opportunities.

At all levels of government we should elect people who are committed to doing all they can to improve our education system.  When we fail to see improvement after a reasonable amount of time we must hold these politicians accountable and replace them with others demonstrating an ability and a passion to succeed where others have failed.

We shouldn’t kid ourselves about how difficult this task will be. Complex and difficult issues contributing to the high dropout rate are no match for a community truly working together.  Mentors and after school programs can help children who don’t have the right resources at home.   Businesses, churches, neighborhood associations, and individuals must help expand the resources of our public school system through volunteer work, scholarships, and helping to develop a diverse and extensive job training curriculum.

The government can help reward good corporate citizens, give teachers more resources, and provide students with safe campuses. The high dropout rate didn’t come out of nowhere and we are not going to eliminate it quickly.  I am running for State Representative precisely because we need an advocate focused on the dropout problem in the State Legislature. I hope that you will choose to do what you can and that you will help recruit others to do the same.

Eric Johnson is a Dallas attorney and candidate for Texas House of Representatives District 100.  You can contact Mr. Johnson at info@johnsonfortexas.com.

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