London Free Press

The federal government has wisely decided to invest $5 million a year into helping young people graduate from high school. For every dollar we spend on prevention we can save 10 in keeping our youth out of jail.

Corrections Canada 2007 stats shows the average per-day cost to warehouse an inmate is $255. Do the math and you will find the yearly cost is an outrageous amount of $93,744. Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre in London is a bargain at only $160 a day.

The federal plan for expansion of our prison system is supposed to cost $2 billion.

Let me introduce you to a viable alternative: Pathways to Education program, which will receive $20 million over four years from the federal government.

Pathways gives a helping hand to high school students who might fall though the cracks and drop out of school.

"Pathways to Education is a charitable organization created to reduce poverty and its effects by lowering dropout rates and increasing access to post secondary education among disadvantaged youth in Canada," it says on its website.

It had its start in Regent Park in Toronto.

I contacted Mosaic Counselling and Family Services in Kitchener to send along a package of information regarding the Pathways program that they've implemented. They're currently working with 370 students from four designated areas of that city that previously had very high drop-out rates.

The program is structured around four pillars of support:

Tutoring in core academic subjects four times a week.

Social support that provides mentoring relationships.

Financial support that provides for bus tickets and food vouchers. Students who complete high school are given bursaries worth $1,000 a year bursaries for up to four years to be allocated toward the fees for a post-secondary education.

Last but integral, advocacy support that builds a bridge between the school and family.

Pathways Kitchener students have shown a marked improvement since the program began in September 2007 as they have achieved higher grades, attended school more regularly and have been able to better focus on the expectations and requirements of their education program, The program continues to grow as students and their families spread word of the success of the students who have been enrolled.

Pathway statistics have been outstanding, cutting the drop-out rates from 56% to 12%. Eighty percent of the grads are the first in their family to attend university or college. Ninety-three percent of the students of eligible students were enrolled.

There is estimated to be $600,000 lifetime benefit to society for each student who completes the program.

Pathways' vision is been successfully implemented in 11 communities in four provinces. Beside government funding, corporations and individuals have donated to the program.

Investing our money to help at-risk youth to be productive is a wise economic and social choice. We need Londoners to step up to the plate and provide the Pathway program for our children.

We can spend billions of hard-earned tax dollars to building mammoth prisons to warehouse our youth or we can invest millions in their education reaching those who are most at risk There is a phrase that we should remember when it comes to raising children: "You can pay me now or you can pay me later, but later is often too late and way more expensive."

There is a very interesting notice in the waiting room of the Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre. "All visitors will be responsible for the supervision of their children while in this institution. Take notice that your family is your responsibility."

Our family responsibilities can take in all of the children in London to help provide them with a meaningful education. Prisons or schools: you choose.

Len Lesser is an education/career counsellor in the London area.

lenlesser@hotmail.com