Entry #12: "There is more to a successful journey
to adulthood than passing state standards."


Glasgow, Kentucky and Columbus, Georgia -- This trip across America has provided many unexpected challenges. First, picture our eighth-grade son Ian running outside of our trailer in 28-degree weather, wearing pajamas and trying to turn our "frozen" water back on. We have since learned about insulating our hose.

Then there's is our laptop computer "Piglet." Seems the further we travel, the more temperamental it becomes. Sometimes when turn on, it just flashes a "?" at us. (Our district technician said this was "not good.") So, since we all depend on the lines of communication with e-mail and I need this stupid thing to keep track of findings and photos, we'd better find somewhere to fix it. Any suggestions?

Meanwhile, we have said goodbye to yet another positive community; this one in southern Kentucky. Each time we arrive in a new location, we wonder how we will get to know the people, schools, and community in such a short time, then are amazed at how we are welcomed and included.

From the Columbia Avenue Church of Christ to the Tyson family with the big backyard for our trailer "Tigger," we again found community and warmth. As you might imagine, this spills over into the education arena as well. Just before leaving, I had the chance to share pizza in the Barren County Middle School art room with no less than 13 members of the school community.

The scene at Barren County Middle School should be the standard for every middle school. Youth club directors, local actors, business owners, community police officers, chamber of commerce members, health workers, park rangers, and parents were all discussing their support and work in the school. This group, along with the many other partners not able to come represented the wide range of resources able to assist with the many needs of middle school students in Glasgow.

On this journey, I have heard some districts say that the bottom-line is test scores and academic improvement. Yes, the public is calling for higher skills and evidence of achievement but we must not forget there is more to a successful journey to adulthood than passing state standards.

Parent, community and school collaboration is not just to raise test scores, it's the right way to work with kids, especially in today's world. That's why the work of Search Institute of Minneapolis (see 9/26-diary entry) is so powerful now. With the 40-asset model, they have proven that our youth will be successful in school and in LIFE if these assets are developed and evident.

That's why we are now in Columbus, Georgia. Partnering with Search since 1997, they are the first community in the south to establish an Asset Builder Program and have surveyed their 10,000+ middle and high schoolers to develop a profile of student life and determine the percentages of youth experiencing particular assets Even before seeing these results. It was evident that the students and middle schools in this diverse city do not have a reputation for excellence.

The survey points out that like so many of our communities, the majority of the youth do not have attitudes and behaviors, that lead to success. Turning this around is not the job of any one institution but of all who potentially influence kids.

Yesterday, our boys participated in a junior golf program here designed to involve local youth otherwise economically unable to learn and play. On the day of our arrival, the local newspaper began running a weekly series on assets, encouraging families to eat meals together, prodding schools to communicate positive information to parents more often, and calling on congregations to sponsor events that bring whole families together all towards increasing asset #1: Family Support.

With the help of Dr.Allen Kerr, a key figure in Asset Builders of Columbus, we expect to find more examples and programs mobilized on behalf of the kids of this city. This way, the youth of Columbus will find increased success in school AND out.

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