sobering statistics

[Susan Ohanian <SOhan70241@AOL.COM>]

I just received some materials I'd ordered from the Children's Defense Fund.
They are jam-packed with sobering statistics, and I thought I'd share a few
with you. I was struck by the huge disparity of incidence of school
suspension and murder. Admittedly, Vermont is a very small state.
Nonetheless, when you compare a kid getting murdered about once a year with
every 2 to 4 days. . . .I think the murders are very much related with the
school suspensions. As Steve noted recently: "Maximum fine for low achieving
high school students who may lower test scores in Alabama: death on the
streets of Birmingham.

I chose Alabama because Steve Orel is engaged in valiant work to rescue some
Birmingham young people at the World of Opportunity.  I'll add a couple of
states so you can make comparisons.

Susan O.

Moments for Alabama Children
Every 29 minutes a baby was born into poverty.
Every 25 minutes a baby was born to an unmarried mother.
Every 49 minutes a baby was born to a teenage mother.
Every 4 hours a baby was born to a mother receiving late or no prenatal care.
Every 2 hours a baby was born at low birthweight.
Every 15 hours a baby died during the first year of life.
Every minute a public school student was suspended from school.
Every 2 minutes a public school student was corporally punished in school.
Every 27 minutes a child was reported abused or neglected.
Every day a child or youth dies by accident.
Every 2 days a child or youth died in an auto accident.
Every 4 days a child or youth was murdered.
Every 10 days a child or youth committed suicide.
Every 3 days a child or youth was killed by a firearm.

Alabama ranks 45th in per pupil expenditures in the public schools. 1997-1998
1,084,135 children; 25.3% in poverty.
h.s. completion rate: 84.9% in 1995-96; 83.1% 1997-1998.

Moments for Florida Children
Every 11 minutes a baby was born into poverty.
Every 8 minutes a baby was born to an unmarried mother.
Every 20 minutes a baby was born to a teenage mother.
Every hour a baby was born to a mother receiving late or no prenatal care.
Every 34 minutes a baby was born at low birthweight.
Every 6 hours a baby died during the first year of life.
Every 22 seconds a public school student was suspended from school.
Every 4 minutes a public school student was corporally punished in school.
Every 7 minutes a child was reported abused or neglected.
 Every 13 hours a child or youth dies by accident.
Every 21 hours a child or youth died in an auto accident.
Every 2 days a child or youth was murdered.
Every 4 days a child or youth committed suicide.
Every 2 days a child or youth was killed by a firearm.

Florida ranks 34th in per pupil expenditures in the public schools. 1997-1998
3,539,932 children; 22.3% in poverty
h.s. completion rate: 81.9% 1995-96; 84.8% 1997-1998

Moments for Vermont Children
Every 7 hours a baby was born into poverty.
Every 5 hours a baby was born to an unmarried mother.
Every 16 hours a baby was born to a teenage mother.
Every 3 days a baby was born to a mother receiving late or no prenatal care.
Every 21 hours a bay was born at low birthweight.
Every 9 days a baby died during the first year of life.
Every 19 minutes a public school student was suspended from school.
Every 8 hours a child was reported abused or neglected.
Every 14 days a child or youth dies by accident.
Every 24 days a child or youth died in an auto accident.
Every 304 days a child or youth was murdered.
Every 65 days a child or youth committed suicide.
Every 61 days a child or youth was killed by a firearm.

Vermont ranks 11th in per pupil expenditures in public schools 1997-98
141,347 children; 14.6% in poverty.
h.s. completion rate: 89.3% 1995-96; 95.3% 1997-8


from "2000 Children in the States"
Children's Defense Fund
www.childrensdefense.org

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