In the reading by Lynda Barry “The Sanctuary of School”, she describes early years as a child in elementary school. Barry grew up in a less than stable home environment. Barry describes how she is unnoticed in that household, but when she’s in school she feels a sense of importance and belonging, which is more than she ever felt at home. Barry mentions that before and after school programs are cut and people are told that public schools are not made for babysitting children. Barry’s assessment of after-school programs is accurate. After school programs are very important to children because after-school programs offer the opportunity for children to not only work on their homework but to get help if they need it. There are other programs that introduce children to mathematics and sciences, getting them excited about these subjects. Children can also benefit from after-school programs both emotionally and behaviorally if they feel a positive connection to other people. Students in afterschool programs are less likely to join gangs, be victims or perpetrators of violence, become teen parents or engage in a host of inappropriate behaviors. After-school programs offer the opportunity for kids to not only work on their homework but to get help if they need it. Students need more than a strong curriculum, good teachers,…show more content… Unfortunately, programs that do introduce children to mathematics and sciences are the first to go when times are lean. Just like Barry mentions “We all know that a good education system saves lives, but the people of this country are still told that cutting the budget for public schools is necessary, that poor salaries for teachers are all we can manage to and the art, music and all creative activities are the first to go when times are lean. (Barry 2)” If these programs are first to be cut children don’t have the opportunity
