Kudos for the Jan. 18 editorial titled "Fathers, flown." This is a serious and not just local problem (look at Washington), and it can be fixed in a generation with two comprehensive actions.
At birth, provide each fatherless child and its mother nurturing guidance from agencies, personal mentors, and the community.
This would include child care, health care, preschool, after-school tutoring, and loving supervision through high school. At the same time, the mother would be provided with help for education, employment, nurturing, and hope, as well as birth control information.
The community and school system would provide all middle-school girls extensive programs fostering self-esteem and self-respect, a guide to becoming healthy adults, and mentors to follow them through school.
These programs would include detailed health, reproductive, and sexual information, and discussions on men, boys, and relationships. Above all, they would include extensive truthful information on birth control.
I personally know two teachers (one is my daughter) in different states who lead these programs with great success.
Would this cost money? Of course, but it would result in monetary savings in a generation of functioning adults, lessening the need for extra police, incarceration, and welfare. It would ultimately strengthen the economy. Sadly, I fear it will never happen.
Judith Murray Locust Grove