CNN iReport

** By scorpi2000 - Jan 10th, 2008 at 7:10 pm EST \\Copyright 1992 Carl B. Edmondson

* Chicago, Il.

* UNITED SCHOLASTIC STUDENT MOTIVATIONAL PROGRAMS

* The USSMP are designed to stimulate a positive motivational learning atmosphere. This concept for the inner city schools, makes the students, parents, and teachers partners in a group effort. As most of us with children have noticed, The Public school system has a lack of enthusiasm from students, teachers and parents. Many efforts have been made to improve the grade point averages of America's inner city youth, with little progress. ,.

* The teachers say it is the parents and students,

* The parents Say it is the teachers and school system.

* Others say it is a lack of finances.

* +Well, I say it's a lack of motivation in the Right areas.+

* OUR CHILDREN CAN BE MOTIVATED IN A POSITIVE WAY TO PURSUE THIS KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION THE SAME WAY COMMERCIALS, ADVERTISERS, AND THE MEDIA GET PEOPLE TO, BUY THEIR PRODUCTS, TO WEAR THE LATEST FASHIONS, AND FOLLOW THE LATEST TRENDS, ETC.

* +MARKETING STRATEGIES+

* In today's society most households in the inner city, have either a single parent working, or both parents working to maintain the basic standards of living.

* With the single parent or both parents working fulltime, there is little time or energy left to create and sustain a productive environment for their children.

* It is well known that a child forced to learn will not excel as well as child that is positively motivated.

* Most children do not understand the importance of acquired knowledge.

* To them it is something that has to be done, something forced upon them by their parents.

* Many will ­realize the importance of a good education only after they become adults.

* How do we insure they get this knowledge?

* We as parents and teachers must motivate, teach, coerce, reward, support+, get involved and do whatever is necessary to de­liver to our children the knowledge they need.

* What I am talking~ about is triggering~ in our children the will, the need, and the reasons to want to learn.

* There is an enthusiasm that is within every child. But it is misguided ~and wasted in areas that have no substantial, Long~ term payback for their futures.

* Our children are constantly being influenced more by the media and peer pressure than with the public school sy­stem and parents.

* The results of this are low grade point~ averages and a lack of enthusiasm for learning the things that would most benefit their futures as well as ours.

* It is a well known fact that the media has no problem ~getting~ our children's undivided ~attention. Music, fashions, gangs, video games, television etc., all seem to have more influence on the direction of our youth than parents and the school system.

* Yes, our children are being motivated in very big Way. But this motivation is not leading or benefiting~ our children in a positive direction.

* These strong motivational factors (+marketing strategies+) are being used to benefit those who only seek financial gain for themselves. Very little is being recirculated to benefit our children's' education and their future.

* We all start off in life compared to a brand new com­puters with little or no information in it. We are capable of ~absorbing and storing vast amounts of information. We all have short term and long term memory banks within our brains in which we store surface information and permanent information.

* Depending on the strength of influence that information has on us, determines whether we retain it or not.

* The importance of education, if not instilled in our children, will become trivial information compared to the Excitment of new toys, fads, fashions, TV programs, movies and music.

* All of these things to most children are far more important than Math, English, Science, Engineering, and Business etc.

* If a child is exposed to learning two different subjects on his own such as Math and video games,the child would learn more about the video games at a faster pace, with more enthusiasm than he would Math.

* This is be­cause one is more exciting or stimulating.

* Most children do not understand the need for complicated Math problems. The need that is there is not generated from the child's understanding of why it should be used.

* There involvement is more than likely a forced issue. His Parents demand that he perform in these areas for which he may have little interest.

* With these factors in mind, I would like to introduce to the public and media a new organization called

* UNITED SCHOLASTIC STUDENT MOTIVATIONAL PROGRAMS

* (USSMP)

* The main goal of USSMP will be to use the same

* +marketing strategies and+ motivational tactics used by the mass media and commercials to stimulate our children and get their undivided attention;

* Utilizing these strong motivational forces and +marketing strategies+ to create an ENVIRONMENT in and around our schools.

* This will trigger an enthusiasm for learning that has long been lost.

* THAT'S RIGHT MAKE IT EXCITING AND STIMULATING TO GO TO SCHOOL BY ADDING A SEPARATE INDEPENDENT NON FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION SPECIFICALLY CREATED AS A SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS.

* THE SOLE PURPOSE OF U.S.S.M.P. IS TO MAKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ALL SUBJECTS AND CLASSES, STIMULATING, EXCITING, FUN AND REWARDING, WITHOUT ADDING MORE WORK FOR THE TEACHERS

Example #1:

SCHOLASTIC WARRIORS COMPETITION(SWC)

In this program the students involved would be refurred to as Scholastic Warriors. After each marking period the Scholastic Warriors Competition can be held in a school gym or auditorium.

Scholastic Warriors competition Rules. 1.

The only students ~allowed to participate in these games will be the students recommended by their teachers withparental consent.

2. The suggested students should only be those who have maintained high grade point averages and good conduct. Also those students who have made substantial Progress in these areas. (Ds to Bs & Cs to As etc.)

1. The Scholastic Warriors games should be conducted after each markingperiod to honor those students who have ~achieved the set scholastic goals.

The Scholastic Warrior games should be conducted Similar to the way basketball games are held, charging an admission fee. ~.

The Scholastic Warrior teams can be funded as basket ball teams or footballs are funded thru the school system as well as from donations.

6. The Scholastic Warrior ~competitions will exist holy as~ means to motivate students to higher scholastic achievements. (Not meant to be a sports event).

7. Each marking Period, different Scholastic Warriors will be Presented to the neighborhood and school so that a turnover~ will give other students a chance to be highlighted ~and rewarded.

8. The school gym teacher or athletic director will work with USSMP to coordinate these events.

9. The students chosen for these events will be cho- sen only for scholastic achievements and not phy- sical attributes.

10. All students chosen as Scholastic Warriors will receive sweat shirts and/or T shirts bearing-the Scholastic Warrior logo as prizes.

11. At the end of the school year a music concert or special tournament can be held in honor of all Chosen Scholastic Warriors withbig exciting prizes Honoring these students' scholastic achievements.

Prizes can be TVs., video games, bicycles, latest fashions, or whatever is most popular with the students.

12. Sweat shirts and T shirts will be sold by USSMP with Proceeds going back to the program.

Example #2:

SCHOLASTIC: RAP CONTEST(SRC)

1. All students must participate by writing the words for a Rap Song relating to school.

2. All students will participate .

1. All words used in the Rap Song must be school related English, Science. History, Math, etc.

4. All songs must have a positive message relating to their school classes, Only utilizing words relating to their particular subject.

5. Winners will be chosen by class mates and teachers... .- -7 Winning Rap Song will be honored by school with prizes.

Funding for these programs can be acquired by Government Grants

2. Donations From Neighborhood Business 1.

Donations From Major Toy Companies

4. Tickets and Proceeds s.

Donations From Local ~television and Cable Stations

STAFF parents, Teachers, Students, Volunteers