I just got back from Indianapolis. I had the chance to speak with my good friend Derek Thomas who is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Indiana Institute for Working Families I refer to in a previous post. Reading the information about the growing people in poverty or on the verge of poverty I am compelled to urge a broader course of action for my friends who are advocates for public education. Do not stop advocating for public education but please also understand education does not occur in a vacuum and we cannot help children reach their full potential when they are being raised in poverty; when they do not have adequate nutrition; when too many are actually homeless; etc. We need a comprehensive effort to help families, in whatever form they exist, so we can give children the best opportunity to reach their full potential and share their unique gifts as a contributing member of our community. In order to provide this environment we need programs to help parents gain jobs which allow them to support their family; we need full access of children to early childhood learning; we need communities to raise up support groups to help when a family is struggling; we need programs to help those who have broken the law to have our first goal to be to provide rehabilitation for the first time non-violent offenders, particularly those who are parents already; the list goes on but I make this post to urge us to see we cant be just public education advocates, or environmental advocates, or fair wage advocates, etc. We need to get involves, get informed and speak out for a comprehensive approach that focuses on people and caring for them. With such an approach we speak without hatred or negative attacks but listen to one another with a goal of accomplishing the common good. We can still allow high achievers to profit from their efforts but we work to assure no person is left behind or left out without making every effort to provide the tools for success. When everyone has the chance to succeed we all win because each person has unique qualities and we will all be blessed if they have the opportunity to develop those qualities.
Posted on: Sat, 17 Jan 2015 00:28:09 +0000
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