<p>we couldn't afford swim lessons growing up ... my brothers and I taught ourselves when mom took us to a lake and we watched others while wading in the shallows ... we were lucky ...</p>
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<p>many people, more blacks than whites, don't have access to pools or lessons and if the parents are afraid of swimming that fear is passed to the kids most of the time ... my mom knew how to swim/float so the fear wasn't instilled in us and we just 'learned' with access ...</p>
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<p>our local schools have almost all stopped including swim lessons as part of the phys ed programs due to bussing and time issues ... our Y used to teach all the county kids in 3-5 grades about 8 lessons a year ... not much,but better than nothing ... and we always talked with the kids about basic water safety, helping others w/o endangering yourself and lifejackets ...</p>
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<p>this story breaks my heart.</p>