It’s that time of year again. Lazy hazy days give way to alarm clocks, crowded morning commutes and school children starting a new academic year. What will your kids be wearing and carrying this year? Sean John, Phat Farm, Ecko Ltd., Baby Phat? What new name will your child respect more than their own? In these days of hyper-consumerism, when kids talk more about what they’re wearing to school than what they’re learning in school, a parent’s job is more difficult than ever. Madison Avenue has discovered our secret; that parents will sacrifice for their children to have the best. In most cases that’s admirable but, in our extremely appearance driven community, we are throwing out substance in favor of style. It is no longer good enough for Rashid to go to school clean, with a fresh hair cut, new kicks and a backpack full of empty notebooks. No, now he has to wear an urban uniform that’s dictated by a faceless hip hop culture, and made up of overpriced clothing signed with celebrity names. In an effort to chase fame, more and more people are buying in to the products being hawked by the rich and famous. Let’s see, does denim do anything different if it says mecca® versus Wrangler®? Still indigo-dyed cotton right? Right.

If anyone wants a clear understanding of what mainstream culture truly expects of our youth, thumb through the fashion layout in the September issue of Source magazine and check out their take on back-to-school basics. Teenage boys gambling in the graffiti filled bathrooms, notebooks thrown on the floor, and half dressed girls. Teachers provocatively splayed out over desks in plunging necklines, suggesting hyper-sexuality and lack of control. All the while they’re surrounded by captions filled with designer names and too many places behind the dollar signs. It’s crazy.

While there is nothing wrong with entrepreneurs, and moguls alike, selling their wares, as parents, it’s our job to keep our kids focused on the real goal and put this all in perspective. The truth of the matter is that Akademiks JeaniusLevel Products™ should be how we describe our youth, not their clothes.

Here are a few helpful websites to keep our kids on top of their academic game, or at least ahead of the sketchy New York City Public School system, this year. For those who are not hooked up to the internet at home, please visit your public library and jump on from there. omf

For general resources to help your child in school, try www.growparents.com.

For Homework Help, By Grade Level:

Elementary: Grades K-5
www.homeworkspot.com
www.factmonster.com
http://www.aolatschool.com/
http://www.classbrain.com/

Middle School through High School: Grades 6-12
http://www.jiskha.com/
www.homeworkspot.com
http://www.thwww.com/mrwizard/homework.htm
www.algebra.com

Financial Aid Help: Print out this 40 page downloadable guide book.
www.studentiad.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/2003-2004/english/index.htm

College and Scholarship Search:
www.fastweb.com
www.supercollege.com
www.bestcollegedeals.com (Paid service)