The Indianapolis Star reported that 4 out of 5 Public School students don't live with their fathers.
How. Very. Sad. Indeed.
Sure, some of those fathers might not live with their kids because of divorce; but they could still be good dads, and do what they can given the housing arrangements. On the other hand, a much bigger percentage of those fathers are literally non-existent (and intentionally so) in their kid's lives.
Which makes them just fathers, not dads.
And that "father but no dad" issue is a gargantuan (national) problem, with alarming consequences.
While the downsides of the heartbreaking FBND syndrome are too voluminous to count - especially as it impacts the kids - one has to ask what type of jobs, let alone careers, do the fathers have, who choose to be absentee dads? And does their work (or lack thereof) impact their lives in such a way that if they had the right job (let alone career) - they'd be better dads?
Which makes them just fathers, not dads.
And that "father but no dad" issue is a gargantuan (national) problem, with alarming consequences.
While the downsides of the heartbreaking FBND syndrome are too voluminous to count - especially as it impacts the kids - one has to ask what type of jobs, let alone careers, do the fathers have, who choose to be absentee dads? And does their work (or lack thereof) impact their lives in such a way that if they had the right job (let alone career) - they'd be better dads?
The answer, of course, is yes.
And therein lies both the problem, and part of the solution.
In other words, if the guys' who father children were given proper training (from both a vocational and character standpoint) - as it pertains to both their job/career AND daddying - then chances are, they will do better at both. It's simple math.
Now, as easy as that is to comprehend and moreover appreciate - it apparently is not that easy to get done, hence the abysmal stats. That's why our high schools and universities and the parents who run them, need to do a consistently better job of ensuring that young men get both work, and life related education. Simultaneously. At the same time, young men themselves need to step it up, and take greater accountability, as well. It's a two-way street, for sure.
No doubt, that's a goal easier said than done. After all, the list of issues, let alone potential remedies, is long and full of debate. Be that as it may, one fundamental and undebatable truth is this: it's critically important to interweave job/trade/career skills training and education, with life/parenting skills training and education.
In fact, let's make that learning duality a national mandate.
A must.
A matter-of-fact expectation.
No ifs, ors, buts about it.
Period.
Exclamation point.
If we can ensure (literally) that our young men can be good dads, let alone good parents - then it stands to reason that these same young men will do better at work, and enjoy better careers. Taken together, these young men will then live better lives - which will better their families, communities and society at large.
Which in turn, will deliver a boatload of quantitative and qualitative ROIs. And who doesn't like ROI?!
In fact, let's make that learning duality a national mandate.
A must.
A matter-of-fact expectation.
No ifs, ors, buts about it.
Period.
Exclamation point.
If we can ensure (literally) that our young men can be good dads, let alone good parents - then it stands to reason that these same young men will do better at work, and enjoy better careers. Taken together, these young men will then live better lives - which will better their families, communities and society at large.
Which in turn, will deliver a boatload of quantitative and qualitative ROIs. And who doesn't like ROI?!
Fathers as Dads are Good.
(Happy Fathers Day, Dads.)
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