|
Future Trends
The coming years are likely to see a steady increase in the need for quality after-school programs. As parents and communities seek to provide more and better opportunities for their children, after-school programs will continue to be seen as part of the solution. The need for quality after-school programs for students in the middle school and early teen years will be an additional area of emphasis. It is also likely that many of these programs will be expanded to before-school and weekend programs to offer parents and students even more ways to fully utilize school resources. With schools increasingly at the center of public debate and controversy, the trend toward more community involvement in school is likely to grow. The public will require more from schools and will not be content to see expensive school facilities sit empty after 3 p.m., on weekends, and all summer long. Conclusion
While we may debate the nature of who should be responsible for providing the nation's youth with quality after-school activities, we simply cannot debate their necessity. The reality of the situation is rather simple-too many children in this country go home alone after school every day and are unsupervised for too many hours. The results of this unsupervised time are counterproductive and can prove to be devastating or even deadly. By working together we have the opportunity to make this time healthier, happier, safer, and more educational for today's students through quality after-school programs. And by taking advantage of the material and human resources already available, we can make their future and ours even better.
|
