I spent time with three groups of students in a week’s time. The grade levels were fourth through twelfth grade.

There was a group of 50 fourth and fifth graders. I asked: “How many of you have a talent?” Every single kid raised their hand.

Then there was a group of 100 sixth through ninth graders. “How many of you have a talent?” 25 of the kids raised their hand.

Then came 50 tenth through twelfth graders. “How many of you have a talent?” Two kids raised their hand.

Let’s do some math.

100 percent of the fourth and fifth graders believed they had a talent.

25 percent of the sixth through ninth graders believed they had a talent.

Four percent of the tenth through twelfth graders believed they had a talent.

I mentioned this to a friend. He said: “The schools just aren’t what they once were.”

Isn’t that selling the schools short? Where does a person learn about talents?

A school superintendent I know said he began his career as a flaming liberal back in the 70’s. “I don’t know what you’d call me now, but what I do know is that today’s liberals only criticize what we’re doing. They never stick around to help. We’re feeding these kids breakfast. We’re feeding these kids after school. We’re doing a lot of things that have nothing to do with teaching what we need to be teaching. And the first people to complain about what we’re doing is the parents. And guess who creates the most problems for us? It isn’t the kids.”

I will not sit here and say I believe all school people are perfect. I know better. But is it right to expect the schools to act as child-raising institutions? Where does the family come in, if at all? Why does every single school worker I know — from teacher to principal to superintendent — tell me that the parents are the single biggest problem they face in schools these days?

The whiners are running the system. And nobody can say anything about it, because the whiner has a lawyer’s business card in his pocket.

Isn’t today’s culture a great course for the kids in taking responsibility?

Complaining about schools is popular. But it doesn’t seem like we’re willing to give the schools a chance of success. It takes more than taxes and paperwork to teach. How can anyone teach the three R’s while babysitting troublemakers and ducking lawsuits from parents whose only involvement is to complain?

I asked the twelfth graders what they were looking forward to. “June 2nd, so we’ll be through with this crap.”

I laughed. “What happens on June 3rd?” The whole group leaned forward. “You’ve been getting force-fed for twelve years now that you have self-esteem. On June 3rd you enter a world that doesn’t care if you live or die. Then you will get to discover if you have self-esteem or not.”

One of the kids said: “Gosh, that sounds hard.”

(Editor’s Note: David Clark has released his new album “Ten.” To order send $15.00 plus $4.00 shipping to Clark CD Orders, P.O. Box 148, Cochran, GA 31014. Visit Clark’s website: www.outofthesky.com, email David Clark at dclark@outofthesky.com, or write him at P.O. Box 148, Cochran, Ga. 31014.).