Learned Helplessness | A Fox45 News Project Baltimore Documentary 

Late 111 days and Absent 30 days of school? The school year is only 180 days. What is going on in this house? Why is this little one not getting to school on time?

The mother who's son was late or absent everyday is blaming the school system for her failure as a parent. It's a parents responsibility to teach their children routines and responsible habits like going to bed at 9pm so they're well rested and able to get up in the morning. so they can make it to school on time. Irresponsible behaviors are learned. Parents can't wait until 3rd grade to all of a sudden have house rules. There will be push back.

Clearly some of these parents never learned the word "parenting" in school. How can you let your child be late or absent 147 days of the year? Intervene! How do you see your child get all D minuses and think everything is fine with his educational progress?! It's all learned helplessness. The bad parents don't see themselves as the authors of their lives, so don't even try to take control of the situation when something is clearly wrong.

Parents you hold the role of being your child’s primary educator! Rather than pointing fingers at the district, it's crucial to reflect inward first. Allowing your children to disrespect teachers, confronting schools with disrespect, and limiting disciplinary actions have tied the hands of educators. The ability to effectively guide and discipline students has been restricted, leaving few tools at our disposal. We've reached a point where even basic disciplinary actions like suspensions or recess removal are off the table! There's a dire need for severe consequences for certain actions. Surprisingly, it's the parents and the community who possess more influence than the professionals who are genuinely striving to assist your children. In times past, teachers garnered the utmost respect, but sadly, that seems to have changed. There's a lack of protection for teachers, a situation that has been shaped by the demands and pressures imposed by the community. Now, the consequences of these actions must be faced. Parents, it's time to hold yourselves accountable. Students who have active and supportive parents continue to thrive in their learning journey. That much is certain!"

Parents need to be held accountable.

Tell me you’re not raising your children without telling me. If you don’t know what’s happening in your children’s daily lives, don’t know their best friend’s names, don’t know their teachers’ names, don’t know what classes they’re currently taking, don’t attend school events, don’t donate to fundraising, don’t volunteer… damn, do you even talk to them? Yes, the school system is partly to blame, but they’re only able to get away with this because parents aren’t involved. “I’m too busy working 2 or 3 jobs.” Congrats, you’ve set your children up for that same future, resulting in them having to work multiple jobs too, because they only qualify for low paying jobs because you weren’t involved when it mattered. Keep shifting the blame on the schools while McDonald and Walmart CEOs laugh. Or take accountability, get involved, plan better, and lead by example!! And for heaven’s sake, don’t have another child when you’re already doing a piss-poor job with your existing children.

What a great report. Congratulations to Fox45 news

Fox , please take note that teachers are drained daily. Many students threaten,, talk back, fight and disrupt learning every day. It's pretty sad that many parents get heated with the teacher's, but who is in great support of the learning environment

Excellent video, horrible situation. This is happening all across the US. We need this type of video for Chicago, its just as bad or worse.

I have had tearchers quit because after failing students she saw that they were changed to a passing grade.

This isn’t just Baltimore … Anne Arundel county has these issues too. A lot of this has to do with economics and the kids in these communities not being seen as valuable.

Seems like the funding is being embezzled somehow

We are indebted to Chris Papst and Fox45 for this incredible documentary.

The reporter has his sneakers on, in case he needs to RUN. SMART!

Just a thought: Children learn the alphabet, phonics and reading in ELEMENTARY school. By the time you get to middle school and even high school, these things should be fundamental!! Why is anyone just learning to read by ninth grade??😢

I'm a former BCPSS teacher who taught in West Baltimore from 1997 - 2003. I can definitely attest to the self-destructive and overall dysfunctionality of many of the people in the inner city. I family cousins who still live in public housing. Some of them are not motivated to do the work. I thank God for overcoming my shortcomings to get an education and own a home. I grew up in public housing until the age of 9. My mother was a high school dropout and my faher was younger than her. I wasn't supposed to make it, but I knew early on (from watching the Cosby Show in the 1980s) that I wanted to go to college. Many of the kids today simply can't see past tomorrow. A lot of the students and parents had a math phobia. But when the school would offer my services to tutor parents for their GED or my students with their work, few would come.

How does any parent not know that their child can not read or do basic math? 😢 Thank God I was able to homeschool mine.

The one really responsible are the parents. Why wasn't that first dad aware his kid was that behind? Why are they putting all their parenting responsibility on the "system?" Coming from a shit ass school, the worst enemy of the students who wanted to learn were the shit stirring kids who got no home discipline and dragged the whole class down with them.

@foxBaltimore if you do a follow up story please ask the parents if they participate in voting in their local school board elections. This isn’t a knock but to highlight the importance and reminds Americans that we have power.

Touchy subject that needs to be discussed. Thank you.

Please do a follow-up on this story.

NO! 😱😱😮😮The question is, WHY was he marked absent or tardy 147 days?! 😮😮😱😱

The city gave up control of the schools to the state in 97. Since that time, they've been allowed to operate with no supervision. When Ehrlich, tried to do something, Democrats in assembly blocked him. Our schools used to have standards and tough, dedicated teachers.

Years ago I saw a documentary on Netflix about the lead poisoning in Baltimore city giving generations EXTREME levels of learning disabilities, slight brain damage etc. I have tried to find it again but can’t. It explains sooo much about this issue along with others in this city. Anyone familiar with this????

This is inexcusable in every way possible and such a multifaceted problem. In consequence it also affects the kids who actually AREN'T failing because they can never actually be sure of their abilities either if EVERYONE is passing.

Everyone needs to be fired.

Stop letting kids have kids!

Social promotion has ruined a lot of peoples ability to obtain a higher education. Sadly, it is happening everywhere. Children need to be held accountable for their actions. I am not sure why the nations school chose to produce incapable graduates. School systems need an overhaul of operations. However, it must start from the top down. By using social promotion, schools produce good percentages of passing students. Numbers are all the higher up people care about, so if numbers are good, nothing is looked into deeply. This must change !

The same thing going on in New Orleans Public/Charter Schools.... SMDH People if "WE" fail these kids "WE" fail our country!

This falls on the parents. Sadly it’s a cultural/home life/mindset problem. Has nothing to do with being poor or from single parent households. As far as the schools the entire school board and all in charge must be fired! There is NO reason for these schools to be having the issues they are having with the enormous amount of funding they have!

Everyone is blaming the schools and rightfully so but the parents have a hand in this also!!!! How do you not know that your kid missed 140 days of school?? That’s just bad parenting!!!!

This is bigger than the student and the parent! If a kid can miss 111 days and fail every class and the school system(teachers, principals, higher ups) still promote that student, it’s a bigger issue with the system!!!!! Teachers making a salary for failure of students and changing grades, the higher ups demanding they change grades etc! The system is the issue!! The system is stealing and wasting the budget money!!!! This goes to the top of the Baltimore School System

Stop blaming the teachers. The parents are the primary educators.

Great Baltimore documentary! It is sad 😢

I am very thankful,grateful and Blessed that I got my education in school and Raised well from god,my parents and My grandmothers 💗❤️💕💝❤️💯🙏🙏🙏

Sounds about right and this all has to do with Federal funding.

I do not think a kid should pass until they have learned and shown that they are ready to move to the next grade level.😮😢

This is not just Baltimore City schools, but Baltimore County as well. Class of 1999. Didn't learn a damn thing in Baltimore County schools.

In his book titled Inside American Education PUBLISHED IN 1993, Thomas Sowell details several of the themes covered in this documentary which had been persistent from as early as the 80s. Yet, somehow his voice as a Black conservative has not reached the level of notoriety as other Black authors.

This is so upsetting The audacity of every person higher up to say they were unaware is baffling. They've failed multiple generations of students for profit. Disgusting. Incredibly selfish. Someone should be in jail.

I have heard of teachers changing test scores so they get that bonus and funding. (Midwest) state public schools. The NEA has been failing our kids for years. “No child left behind” has made things worse.

Schools do not give homework anymore in specific area codes.... If homework was given parents could actually help children; hence, parents would know where the extra help is needed. It is not just Baltimore it's happening across Maryland.

Teachers responsibility is to teach, students responsibility is to learn.

Wow, sad for these kids. This is horrible. These children have a right to learn!!!

There’s a lot of factors: burned out, lazy, unlicensed and crooked teachers, the Every Student Succeeds Act (formerly known as No Child Left Behind), parents who aren’t involved in their children’s education, etc.

This very same thing was highlighted in The Wire. That show aired 20 years ago. Disgusting how nothing has changed in Baltimore.

Education starts and ends in the home. Don't blame the public school system for you not teaching your child math.

This isnt limited to Baltimore. My parents taight public school in florida for.years and were forced by their administrators to pass all failing students because of "no child left behind"

He got passed through because the first teacher who tried to hold him back would have gotten the district sued.

This is what journalism is supposed to be: Speaking truth to power. Thank you, FOX 45. Well done. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

This is heartbreaking 💔

Mom on drugs and dad deceased and child acts out. Yet, it’s the school’s fault. School didn’t help but it’s ultimately not the responsible party.

The quality of the teaching and the curriculum are awful. It doesn't make a difference if the child sits in the chair in class or not. I wish I could show you all the stupid stuff that teachers gave to all of us in Kindegarten and elementary school. If my parents hadn't been teachers, I'd never have learned to read. Most of my classmates ended up in jail or running drugs. This school system is corrupt. The money has gone somewhere else.

How can you sit on camera with a straight face and say your child was absent or late 147 and blame the school?

This is what happens when one political party has a monopoly over the city. No penalty for failure

I wonder if this could be brought up in federal court.

Sounds like someone needs to go to jail.

Ciara Ford, that’s your fault. Absent and late all those times. You failed your child.

No wonder why the crime is so bad there

This is going on in the county too

Baltimore City schools not driven by providing proper education, but greed.

58-62% of Baltimore City Public School students are absent/truant on any given dsy. The parents of OVER HALF OF THE STUDENTS can't or won't get their own kids to school.

things can get worse. Can you imagine? Having a home and a book has to be considered a Can Do starting off point, if not--learned helplessness has seeped in.

An “emotional” learning disability 😂 Or in other words: no interest.

I understand that the Baltimore education system may be flawed. I've seen several of these videos. I have one question. If these parents are aware that the school system is a problem, why don't they also help their kids by doing other activities with them? Especially if a parent knows their child has special needs and needs additional resources.

Michelle’s Testimony Is Powerful Yall Need To Get Her In Front Of Congress an Local Government Let them see their handy work in real life consequences!

Baltimore City Public Schools rank 24th out of 24 Maryland districts. 58-62% of students are absent every day. Everyone is socially promoted every year so they don't lose funding.

Baltimore City schools care little about education. This should be made aware on a national level.

Parents of school age children, please leave the city if possible. Your children deserve better opportunities. I wish you all the best! 🙏🏾

Parents need their child to go back to the Kindergarten level to fill the gap in a childs learning.

I can't believe people are so stupid to actually put this in writing. Did they not believe there would be a reckoning one day? Problems started in school systems when everyone started getting awards for just showing up. That has lead to a lot of adults that can't function because they aren't used to having to actually do the work.

I keep posting these stories here (Midwest) to leadership in Government and schools. “Oddly” it’s the Democrats that are still in denial of the failures of the American public schools. May the lord bless those children and adults with positivity and the true help that they need. This should not be happening in America.

Nothing is Broken, Everything is going to plan.... Your poor Child is supposed to go Hell snd Prison....

I said this over 10 years ago but no one was listening! Not parents not community organizations... No one

Gotta keep them ignorant or they won’t vote for the same people anymore. And a lot of people are making a lot of money off of this failure.

"Not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character".... This didn't age well.

Oh, c'mon man! I'm as dumb as a cinder block, but know if someone cheated me out of a nickle on my paycheck.

19:17 No problem. They'll just add more deceased children to the enrollment. Easily will cover the legal fees.

I actually went to that school, Mt Royal is one of the better schools. At least back in my day

They’re making us dumber for a reason.

Im not even from baltimore but i sat down and watched the video of the boy with a 0.13 gpa, the first documentary from two years ago, and just saw this. Its crazy to think this problem still hasnt been resolved. If this happened near me there would be outcry and it wouldnt have taken THIS long STILL to resolve. Its a whole web of corruption and its disgusting and not what america stands for

Why isn't the father tutoring his son in math?

You will never see anyone with a Yamika on here

@28:00 'These kids ain't failing because they can't do it. They're failing because they know they can (fail).' That's precisely the same logic & social psychology that topples functioning societies that morph into pits of welfare-statism (and its the Achilles-heel to ideas like universal basic income).

This should not be allowed to happen.

I don’t get how the parents didn’t realize these things. How could a parent not realize their kid/s can’t read? The school’s at fault but so are the parents.

Black culture at its best.

To all the commenters judging parents and so much else, PLEASE PLEASE spend some time in west Baltimore-it IS the Wild West-when you are SURROUNDED by a culture from birth of thug life, drug users, drug dealers, EXTREME poverty, violence, CONSTANT theft, COMSTANT crime, education is the FURTHEST thing from people’s minds-mavlovs hierarchy-when you have to worry about sooo many other things AND education is so far from a priority, it’s really difficult to fix ANYTHING!!! Parents can TRY but until they are able to get out of this environment, I don’t know a fix of ANY kind that willl actually work. There ARE people who TRY but it’s soooo hard to not get discouraged-on another hand, there is a certain level of beauty in this area BECAUSE it’s the Wild West. There is a huge love of freedom, a vigilante mentality for all, it’s just something you REALLY need to be in the middle of to BEGIN to understand

the father talking about his son needing help in math...uhh.... let me guess....YOU dont know how to do math either SMFH Always looking for someone else to teach your kids something. YOU ARE YOUR CHILDS FIRST TEACHER! What have YOU done to better your child's chances? Nothing.

Might want to run that up to the Supreme Court. Louisiana should be investigated too.

Welcome to wakanda

This is happening all over the United States. The teachers pass the students because they do not want to deal with the behavior and the lack of support from the parents during the next school year. (and) This is a reflection of the District trying to save face for failing data. The knowing how to read write and add starts in elementary school but they took our phonics, 3 line paper and cursive and the new math is too difficult for the parents to understand and the students cannot comprehend the new math curriculum especially the students with learning disabilities...

We all know who's the problem. But saying it or calling it out is called racist and racism. { And don't get me started on Ben Crump. } And for the record, she only got that award for only 2 reasons, and her job performance definitely was not one of them. ✌🏾

Maybe it’s time to vote the democrats out and give republicans a try what have you got to lose after decades of the same results it is going to take different leadership

It starts with making your bed like the Navy Seal on youtube says.

I really think that I mean these kids can't do the basics in the school system. That is very worrying.

Why do the poor child Miss 111 days, that might have something to do with it .

Why did the father not care and never checked if he had j homework .You did it dad no one else

Of course it ends with no current update or solution crazy

They forgot some schools where built on top of graveyards like Katherine Johnson Global Academy & bodies are still under it.