Book
Excerpts
The
TOTAL
FOCUS
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On Family
"When parents separate or divorce, if
they are able to maintain a working
partnership, it would be beneficial to
their children; even if they do not
have a good personal relationship
between them.
The only way to keep a successful
partnership between them is to take
their personal feelings toward one
another out of the equation."
On Choices
"Thirty years ago it was unheard of
for a 15 year old to drive to school
in a luxury Cadillac unless he was
singing on stage with his four
brothers. Thirty years ago we did
not have microwaves and cell
phones. We had to go out of the
house to see a movie and
daydreaming was the closest we
came to a videotape. All of these
things make it tough on youth to
balance schoolwork, jobs, dating,
and other activities"
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Endangered Species
When at-risk, troubled, criminally-minded
black male youth are sent to detention
centers and correctional facilities, they are
more likely to become at-risk, troubled,
criminally-minded black male adults.
When at-risk, troubled, criminally-minded
black male youths are sent to high-quality,
strict-disciplined, college-oriented
academic institutions instead of prisons
(and they are patient with them), they
eventually adapt and become productive,
family-oriented, high-achievieng black
male adults.
It costs $30,000-$50,000 per year to send
them to correctional facilities...It costs
$10,000-$15,000 to send them to a
McNamara or DeMatha High School.
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Character
Academy
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About Youth
"In recognizing the stress of growing
up in our society for tomorrow's
youth today, it is best to engage
youth in programs which create
eustress instead of distress.
Eustress is the kind of stress that
causes us to move toward a goal
whereas distress is the kind of
stress that causes us to move away
from the situation.
Distress frequently happens as a
result of an event or condition that
appears to be out one's control,
leading to heightened anxiety and
fear.
Eustress is caused by a decision
one makes to pursue an event or
condition as part of a goal within
one's control and creates positive
tension and anticipation instead of
anxiety and depression."
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Religion in Schools
"As much as people advocate for
spirituality as a means to combat social
ills, there is an aggressive push to keep
religion out of our nation's public
schools...Private-religious schools can
cost a pretty penny, ranging $7,000 to
$25,000 per year.
Parents who send their children to private
schools are not exempt from paying
school taxes to support public schools; in
effect paying twice for one education.
Many of these private schools...should be
reimbursed by the states because they
reduce the potential for even more
crowded public school classrooms.
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Bryce K. Bevill
R. "Bubba"
Grimes
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Dealing with Adversity
"School and athletics are the
greatest gifts our youth can have in
this American civilization today. ..For
the youth who want to prepare for life
and overcome adversity along the
way, here are a few tips:
-don't skip practice
-don't skip homework
-condition yourself to bring your "A"
game everyday
-don't look for the easy way out
-everyone is not going to like you
-you will show others respect and
treat them kindly and some of them
will still punch you in the mouth for
no apparent reason; and so will life
itself"
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"ESPN began running a series during the
2007 college football season called, "Lou
Holtz's Pep Talk."
In a pep talk to Michigan after their
embarrassing loss to Appalachian State in
the season opener that year, Holtz offered
a pep talk to the Wolverines to help them
focus in on their next opponent.
In this talk he reminded them that in life, 'a
pink slip will be on your office desk, the car
will get repossessed, and you'll come
home and your four kids will tell you that
Mommy has run off with the drummer. Now
what are you going to do?' (or something
to that effect). ..
He was trying to to help them to turn a
negative/adverse situation into a
progressive, positive outcome at the
earliest opportunity. They would have to
work hard to get there but the work itself
would be part of the recovery."
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Faith
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Syracuse University
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Discipline
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