Where is the Village? Part 3 -- Community

The community consists of the following entities:

• Small business owners
• Corporation representatives and executives
• Community activists
• Church leaders
• Non-profit organizations
• Colleges and universities
• Local media
• Volunteers

When it comes to the relationship between schools and the community, support is definitely a two-way street. Reciprocal support is great and is needed. However, over the years, the community as a whole has embrace an individualized and political way of doing business with schools. When local areas and schools become bad for whatever reasons, the community either abandon them, point the finger at them, or both. When things are going good, some within the community engaged in unethical behavior to benefit them and them alone. Notice the welfare of the children is not considered.  Yet, most in the community are the main ones who ridicule a failing school instead of support it anyhow.

In addition, five months ago in my personal journal, I wrote about the relationship with businesses and school for unrelated reasons. Below is an excerpt of my journal entry:

While businesses’ support for schools is essential and necessary, their underlining interests conflict with those of schools. The overarching goal of any business, by all means necessary, is to make money; schools can help them do that by producing a “business-like”, docile workforce and acting as a marketing outlet. While schools are technically businesses themselves, they are not seeking a profit; instead, schools are supposed to rear and educate children in becoming intellectual, empathetic, and responsible citizens. Essentially, businesses want schools to create competent human capital who display a “go along to get along” attitude; in return, schools receive political support, funding, and other resources from these businesses. Therefore, over the years, schools sold out for a buck and corporations have become a highly-influential force in education. So, when folks challenge the status quo, supervisors and managers give them a hard time in the workplace. Even with so-called laws protecting individuals from workplace harassment, when there is a will, they will find a way. That’s why businesses generally hate unions. So you cannot be “free” at work without encountering problems with your superiors. At least, that is what we are taught and are expected to teach future generations. What a shame! While I do agree children should be taught respect for self and others, proper mannerism, and adhering to order, they should also be allowed to express themselves freely without offending others and learn personal accountability.

In that same journal entry, I also discussed the lack of intervention from local churches:

In the same view, I don’t care for churches or religions for similar reasons. Nowadays, churches behave too much like a business. Like schools, churches have sold out for a buck. In my opinion, churches are supposed to spread the good news, help the poor and needy, stand for justice, and provide a means for fellowship and worship. Like businesses, churches not only desire lost souls, but also use their human capital to get paid... Churches and businesses have been plagued with scandals and corruption themselves. When caught, they both run away from accountability; instead, they plead for mercy, forgiveness, and bailouts... While God grants us all a free will, the religious parameters placed by churches are restrictive and, at times, hypocritical.

Alone with schools and the home, churches are supposed to instill morals and values in our children. How are churches supposed to do that when they are engaged in ungodly behavior themselves?


Whether on a national or local level, the media is controlled by the corporations. Ideally, the media serves two goals: to entertain and/or to inform. The media outlets have compromised their intentions to do the will of their corporate bosses. Consequently, information presented by the media may be biased toward a certain political ideology, which is more than likely shared by their corporate owners. This type of influence may be detrimental, if the ultimate goal is to make a profit.  What about the children? How will you support them?

Perhaps the only segments of the community who are good-doers most of the times are non-profits organizations and volunteers. They are not seeking to accrue revenues. While money is needed for them to exist, they are there to serve; that's their ultimate purpose. Only if all segments of the community were on the same page! How safe the neighbors would be? How successful local schools would become? How businesses will thrive? Yet, all of this is wishful thinking.