As parents,

we naturally trust our kids and believe they are

responsible enough to stay home alone. Why not? When we

were their age we stayed home alone and turned out okay.

But you and I both know that the world was more

idealistic then and kids weren't exposed to sex and

violence on a daily basis through music lyrics, TV shows,

movies, Internet sites, and video games. When the cat's

away the mice will play, and they usually do. Even the

best of kids give in to temptation and curiosity.

In fact,

there are more than five million latchkey kids, and more

than three quarters of them experience their first sexual

encounter after school. According to one University of

Southern California study, eighth graders looking after

themselves are more likely to smoke, drink and use

marijuana, and most juvenile homicides occur in after

school fights (Newsweek, April 27, 1998).

When kids

are home alone, they have access to all sorts of things

in the house including: inappropriate shows, movies,

Internet sites, alcohol, cigarettes, and let's not forget

guns. There is a great deal of truth in the old adage

"an idle mind (and idle time) is the devil's

playground." Not to mention that kids entering a

home alone are in danger to all sorts of predators.

This isn't

a new revelation; it's something we all know as parents.

It's what we fear the most. But the fact remains that

millions of our kids come home each day to an empty

house, which leads me to this question, why?

Why, when

there are currently programs such as ASP offered to

elementary and middle schools? Is it because we think our

kids are too old and we don't want them to be

embarrassed? Is it because riding the bus home is more

convenient than having to go by the school and pick them

up? Or is it because riding the bus home is free? It may

be more convenient, but it is certainly not free. It is

not free of anxiety or worry, especially those afternoons

when you call home to check on the kids and they don't

pick up the phone right away.

When bad

things happen, the community as a whole is quick to point

to the school and the school to the parents. But we are

all responsible. Parents can do a lot by taking advantage

of the after-school programs that already exist or trying

to encourage schools to offer more of these programs to

older kids. The schools have a bigger challenge, though.

Their challenge will be to provide support and funding to

these programs, to offer better activities and programs

that will attract kids' interest.

I am so

thankful that Fayette Middle School offers this program.

I can't say enough about the program and how much it has

helped me. The thought of losing it gravely disturbs me.

My daughter

really likes going ASP and pleads with me to pick her up

later. It has helped me with providing resources for

homework assignments that I currently cannot afford. It

gives her an environment that encourages her to do her

homework. And it allows her an opportunity to participate

in after-school activities and meetings such as band

rehearsals, the art club, sports activities and school

dances, where she would not, otherwise, get to

participate. But most of all, when she is in ASP I know

she is safe and I have peace of mind.

I hope

other parents who read this letter will feel the same and

consider enrolling their kids. Remember that the school

needs 15 parents to commit to this program in order to

keep it. This is relatively a small number when you

consider the benefits.

L.

Callahan

Fayetteville

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