Texas Youth Commision Needs Help

The New York Times wrote an article on how Texas needs to "Raze" Youth Commission and "Start Over". http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2007/11/new-york-times-texas-needs-to-raze.html There have been some reforms made by Gov. Rick Perry but no real change in the works.

Blue Ribbon Task Force is ready with a sensible plan but there is not enough support.

In the article it says that some of the problems come from poorly run schools. I do agree schools are poorly run but the problems start at home. How are these kids treated at home? Do they get the attention, love and support they need? Children learn how to treat others by how you treat them. We do need to rebuild our juvenile justice system but we also need to promote better state wide parenting skills. If we can help kids from the beginning we can eliminate most of the problems. We have to raise good kids to get good kids.

Behavior problems can be linked to one of their needs not getting met. When children have a need not getting met or if they feel as if no one cares they can end up acting out. There thoughts could be no one cares, why should I? Children's brains are also not fully developed to understand the ramifications of there actions. We have to be there to help them understand and make good choices.

If children do get to the point that they need to be in centers away from family, we do as a society have a responsibility to give them the best we can. from what I have read on this issue we are not. To me it feels like the focus is to just get them in and out, no real rehabilitation. We have to bring people in to really help them so when they are out they have the tools they need to succeed.