John Block Reports from Washington

Hello, everybody out there in farm country.  This radio commentary is brought to you by the National Corn Growers Association, CropLife America, and Renewable Fuels Association.  They are all friends, supporters, and allies of a healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America.  Thank you.

And now today’s commentary-

Sunday this week was Father’s Day. I am not sure that the fathers of our children are given the appreciation and respect that they deserve. Of course, I am talking about the fathers that step up and do their share in raising their children. It is a family job to raise good kids- responsible, honest, considerate children. My father set a positive example. He worked hard and we were expected to help. My sisters and I helped to milk the cows, feed the chickens, and gather the eggs. My grandfather came out to help in the garden. We were a team and proud of it. As a 10 year old I was in 4-H and my first speech was titled “What I Feed My Pig.” My father helped me put that together. In our one room country school my sisters and I played on our soft ball team and basketball team. My dad was our coach. We all had to play because there were only 9 or 10 kids in the school.

There was a lot to do with sports and farm work every day. Let’s not forget the schoolwork. My dad helped me with math class. He was good with algebra. I was so grateful when I went to West Point that he had already taught me the basics of algebra. Fathers and mothers both play such an important role in raising good children. We need to turn the pages back to the way it used to be - two parents raising their kids. Criminologists’ research found the absence of fathers to be “one of the most powerful predictors of crime.” 90% of young men in prison grew up without a father.

The Census Bureau tells us that today one in four children grow up without a father in the home. Without a father, a child is 4 times more likely to live in poverty, and he is twice as likely to drop out of school. In today’s society too many men don’t take responsibility for their offspring.

I am forever grateful for my father who was part of the solid family foundation when I grew up. Discipline, responsibility and respect for others was the good life we lived. 

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