70% OF IRAQI CHILDREN HAVE STOPPED GOING TO SCHOOL

[Jcrowley]

BAGHDAD, Dec 18 (IPS) - Two in three children in Iraq have simply stopped going to school, according to a government report.

Iraq's Ministry of Education says attendance rates for the new school year, which started Sep. 20, are at an all-time low. Statistics released by the ministry in October showed that a mere 30 percent of Iraq's 3.5 million students are currently attending classes. This compares to roughly 75 percent of students who were attending classes the previous year, according to the Britain-based NGO Save the Children.

Just before the U.S.-led invasion in spring 2003, school attendance was nearly 100 percent.

Iraqis are forgetting almost what a child needs. Dr. Ahmed Aaraji of the Baghdad Societal Organisation, an Iraqi NGO which monitors the state of Iraqi schools and families in an effort to assist families where possible, is trying to remind everyone what that should be.

"To build a child's character, the home atmosphere should be appropriate, parents should attend to children, the school environment should be proper, and the whole society should function at the best level," he told IPS. "But none of these factors seems to exist in Iraq any more."

http://www.dahrjamailiraq.com/hard_news/archives/iraq/000512.php

[Swede]

1. I'd be scared to send kids to school in that enviroment too.

Terrified.

[saigon68]

19. BUT BUT those still going---get FREE pencils from, our soldiers

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Stevie Knox, right, personal security officer, Headquarters Headquarters Company, 155th Brigade Combat Team, Mississippi National Guard, gives a briefing to a squad of soldiers before going on a foot patrol outside of Forward Operating Base Kalsu, Iraq, March 13, 2005. During the patrol, the soldiers handed out pencils and coloring books while looking for insurgent hideouts. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. David Foley More Photos

[nam78_two]

2. K&R.nt

[Botany]

3. No power ... no water .... no jobs ... and now no schools

Mission Accomplished

[kstewart33]

4. Laura Bush would be interested in this.

Another 'good news' area that's sinking into the quagmire.

[Cleita]

5. How about a little home schooling there!

I'm sorry. Excuse my gallow's humor.

It's so criminal what we Americans have done to these innocents, the children, that all I can do sink into a despair of thinking how to fix this and make it better.

[GenDem]

6. How very sad.

It makes you wonder if this place is functioning on any level. When you think about the simple day to day functions that we take for granted -- going to work, or school -- stopping at the grocery store, going to the doctor, dentist, picking up the dry cleaning, bringing our children to a park to play.

These poor people have lost the ability to live their lives.

This country has been wrecked. Our government is the wrecking ball. Very, very sad.

[ContraBass Black]

7. And that's how to kill a society.

[BuyingThyme]

8. They're very busy, with the freedom marching and all.

Dear Republicans,

Please stop.

[Hissyspit]

9. A lost generation. First, having to live through the psychological terror of Shock and Awe

then having to live through a civil war. On top of it all, a loss of an education.

[rodeodance]

10. quick-tell Laura-----to make a trip over there.

[Ian_rd]

11. Ahhh. So many little terrorists ripe for the recruiting.

Then again, I suppose it's possible that they're skipping school to practice their flower tossing with the possibility that Der Decider comes for a victory tour.

[PDJane]

12. And don't forget

The number of disabled or malformed or ill children because of all the depleted uranium and white phosphorus and MK7.

:grr:

[silverojo]

13. What surprises me

Is that 30% of these kids are still going to school, in the midst of this illegal war!

[mirandapriestly]

14. God damn it, I feel so angry and helpless

This is a war on innocent children and families in Iraq, based on fictitious claims.

[NNN0LHI]

15. I can't even imagine raising my kids while under an illegal military occupation n/t

[aaronbees]

16. Operation Leave All Children Behind

What we've done to that country's infrastructure and social fabric is unforgiveable. Any kind of democracy worthy of the name flourishes with education and doesn't work to destroy it.

[progressoid]

17. Woo hoo - we're really spreadin' democracy now.

[lebkuchen]

18. At some US high schools the drop out is over 50%

The difference is that the Iraqis would go to school if they could.

[Laelth]

20. Stupid, stupid Neocons.

I so want to shout ... NOT IN MY NAME!

But the truth is, as far as the rest of the World is concerned, what Bush did, he did in my name, and America will bear the shame of it for centuries.

:cry:

-Laelth