Sunday January 5, 2025
SNc Channels:

Search
About Salem-News.com

 

Jun-10-2011 20:42printcomments

Summer School Vacation (E.T.A.L.B.E.)

“The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare” - Juma Ikanga, marathon runner from Tanzania

Summer break
Courtesy: quiltingbooklady.blogspot.com

(CLEVELAND) - It is that time of year when young people get their big dose of summer freedom all over the United States, but parents need to ensure that kids keep learning and don't end up with nine months of education, and three months of non-education.

At the head of the list is reading, which is an essential aspect of life and an empowering one. Not only does reading expand a person's horizons and life's imaginations; books and other reading venues are future planners that can provide a reader with tools to get on the road to life.

Sports are a strong part of summer activity, just don't let them dominate life and be the only thing a person does.

The bottom line is that in spite of a lot of good teachers and good intentions, our youth are more challenged than ever to compete in the workplace because of a failing education system that now has federal requirements that are not necessarily making things any better.

Help kids understand the value of continuing education, engage their levels of interest, take them places, teach them about history.

_____________________________

Summer School Vacation (E.T.A.L.B.E.)

Summer vacation is almost here & surely you will play,
But do not let these games be the highlight of your day,
For there is only one way to accomplish all your needs,
As the most important thing that you can do is, “READ! ”

Baseball, basketball, football, no ball, whatever you like,
Ok, swimming, camping, golf, tennis or even flying a kite,
School’s out for twelve weeks in the fall you will go back,
So, spend some time in educational areas where you lack.

The purpose of any school curriculum is to learn and grow,
You cannot go to the next 1 if the 1 before you don’t know,
The government has a policy called, “No child left behind,”
But that’s exactly what will happen if it’s not in your mind.

I have a friend, who teaches telling his students the very first day,
We're beginning a new semester everyone starts out with an “A,”
But it’s your responsibility throughout the year to keep it that way,
So, why is it more than half the class at that level will fail to stay?

To find any answer or when in doubt, where would you look?
At the movies, on television, a playground, how about books?
“Excellence Through Advanced Learning by Bible Education,”
An academic program reinforced by scripture to get it done.

And the best thing about E.T.A.L.B.E. that makes it so good,
It can be, “tailor made” to fit the needs of any neighborhood,
Pronounced, E-TAL-BE, it is a combination noun and verb,
Because we all know that action speaks louder than words.

Example of scripture,1st Kings 10: 5, (AB) although not the only one,
By the excellence of your work others will be breathless & overcome.
An old saying or adage right for this is known as the, “Rule of Thumb,”
No one’s perfect therefore always check the work before you’re done.

If you can find someone to play with you can find a buddy,
Who also has a desire to grow and they’re willing to study,
Another student with aspirations to succeed and not to fail,
For every 1 who graduates,1 will not and 1 ends up in jail.

You can’t take the test for a promotion and expect to lead,
When you’re unable to pass because you’re unable to read,
Or think, “I am a superstar athlete, hey coach take a look,”
Either you’ll have to understand signs or a game playbook.

High school diploma? Nope! Now it takes a college degree,
Gone are the days when, “well, at least I can join the Army,”
As even technical skills are required, “to be all you can be,”
Your future is now being framed by your scholastic history.

*“The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare,”
Wanting it but making little or no effort won’t get you there,
If you do not put into practice the lessons that you’ve heard,
“May I take your order? ” You better remember these 5 words.

By Luke Easter

*(Quote by, Juma Ikanga, a marathon runner from Tanzania)

_____________________________________________

Luke Easter is a poet who writes about things that are very close to the heart of Salem-News.com. Another former U.S. Marine, Luke heals the world with an approach that reaches people on a different level, one known for centuries, yet too often forgotten in the one we live in.

We live in a world of social & economic injustice. The main reason for founding America in the first place was to relieve the oppression of the King of England. Patrick Henry said it best, “give me liberty or give me death.” And yet, all too often death seems to be the only way out. Why is there such a high suicide rate especially among teens, in the land of the free & the home of the brave? What makes headlines? Good news? Ha! More depressing stories than anything else. I feel poetry takes an edge off the hurt of bad news while still delivering it but in a, “glitzy” sort of way. Giving a different perspective. Kind of like slap in the face as opposed to a knife in the back. At least with the slap you’ll live to see another day and you will know whom it’s from. I wasn’t here for the beginning of the world but at 59, I just might be here for the end.

Even though it’s still a knife, rhyme poetry helps to dull the blade. And that’s my job. You can write to Luke Easter at: lyricsfromlucas@aol.com




Comments Leave a comment on this story.
Name:

All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.


[Return to Top]
©2025 Salem-News.com. All opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Salem-News.com.


Articles for June 9, 2011 | Articles for June 10, 2011 | Articles for June 11, 2011

Annual Hemp Festival & Event Calendar

googlec507860f6901db00.html
Special Section: Truth telling news about marijuana related issues and events.

Click here for all of William's articles and letters.

Sean Flynn was a photojournalist in Vietnam, taken captive in 1970 in Cambodia and never seen again.