I am a school social worker who has become increasingly alarmed at the decreasing State funded services for children; the increased restrictions placed on what can be considered neglect or abuse of our children; and the lack of any real voice or concern for the children in government. We say that we are concerned about the graduation rate, yet we penalize the poorest of schools for not passing the ISTEP by removing funding!!! Surely, none of us are naive enough to believe that teachers in lower tax districts are actually teaching with the same tools that those in our wealthy suburbs have. Surely, we do not believe that Indiana offers equal education for all! Government needs to realize that , "We have to reach them to teach them." At-risk Children living in poverty and oppression have far greater things weighing on their minds and hearts than classroom activities. I would dare to say that they carry heavier loads than any of the politicians who helped in making the decision to close Knightstown. I attended a training some years ago where the speaker said that we have so many children who are in at-risk environments, that we could consider this generation at risk. He said that, "A generation at risk, was a nation at risk." Now, with the closing of one of the last places of hope for many of these children and their extended families, we are certainly saying that we do not recognize that, "A generation at risk is a nation at risk."