Youth Ministry - An Advocate for Education
S. Adelina Garcia, OSF
Director, Youth and Young Adult Ministry
Diocese of San Angelo TX
Recently Oprah Winfrey had a show on America’s crises in education. As I watched the show I became greatly concerned about what is happening in the field of education. As rich and as powerful as the U.S.A. is we are failing our children. They are graduating with little knowledge.
One young woman was highlighted on the show. She had been an excellent student throughout her grade school and high school. She even was valedictorian in her school. When she went to a well known university she discovered she was unable to handle the material! She was not prepared for college level studies. Imagine her shock and humiliation! She returned home and registered at a local community college and took some basic courses to began preparing for her studies once again.
This is not an unusual story. I have met young people who have told me of similar experiences. Needless to say, they are very angry and feel betrayed.
I am writing this article to challenge youth ministers to advocate for better education. This is a matter of justice and morality. Every child has a right to a quality education. Education is the tool for transformation and equality; without it we are doomed to a life of poverty and isolation.
You may be asking yourself at this point, “What can I do?” As youth ministers we are called to be advocates for the youth. We do so by building relationships and networking with existing agencies, organizations, people to are making a difference in our communities. We partner with them, join them in their mission, share resources and educate others about their work.
Most dioceses, if not all, are working with Industrial Area Foundation organizations. . . Inter-Faith Valley Organization, The Border Organization, Communities Organized for Public Service (COPS), West Texas Organization Strategies (WTOS), etc. These organizations are neighborhood based and supported by churches through membership dues. They develop leadership from the local people and teach organization skills, social analysis, and advocacy.
I strongly encourage youth ministers to seek these groups and form relationships to address issues such as education.
San Angelo Diocese had a justice and service week experience, Make A Difference! for parish teams composed of high school youth and adult leaders. They experienced and were trained to for small faith communities, study the church documents on social justice, pray with the Scriptures, do social analysis, and go out and do service with local agencies. One very noticeable thing was the anger in the young people as they realized the many issues that are never addressed in school. Their lack of exposure to U.S. history and its impact on today’s social reality. They weakness in critical thinking skills was evident as they were lead through exercises that required them.
We in youth ministry need to take this issue to heart and act on it.
We need to make a difference. Below are some websites that may be helpful:
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
P.O. Box 23350
Seattle, WA 98102
info@gatesfoundation.org
www.gatesfoundation.org
Stand Up – Oprah.com
Stand Up is a community-based response to America’s education crises
www.standup.org
info@standup.org
Oprah Winfrey’s website
www.oprah.org