Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Our Children Are Suffering



With just one small voice
Singing out a song
With just one small voice
Singing sweet and strong
One by one they’ll grow
And together sing along
And then soon all the world
Will be singing

With just one small voice
Singing out a song
With just one small voice
Singing sweet and strong
One by one they’ll grow
And together sing along
And then soon all the world
Will be singing


Listen as children sing Jack Hartmann's "One Small Voice"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ07PJpXBvg 

A month ago, I heard this song for the first time, I was moved to tears.  Children throughout the world have one small voice.  It is our job as early childhood professionals to listen to that "small voice", to nurture that "small voice", to support that "small voice."  We are the voice for the voiceless in the world.  We need to be the agent of change for the children and the world's future.      


Just as a child has one "small voice," when an agent of change works by themselves, their voice is small.  However, Gonzalez-Mena stated, “We need one on one relationship’s and become a community and when we are a community we can make a lot of difference”(Laureate Education, Inc., 2013h).  



It is time to lay down our differences.  Time to get rid of the "baggage" that will hinder change.  Our children are suffering.  Children do not have adequate and clean drinking water.  Our children are suffering.  Children do not have adequate and healthy food. Our children are suffering.  Children are living in unsanitary conditions.  Our children are suffering.  Children are living in broken homes.  Our children are suffering.  


The children are suffering.  Politicians can't agree.  Communities and schools don't see eye to eye, so nothing happens. Things are stagnant, and the children are suffering.   

   


Every child in every nation deserves a childhood full of hope, joy, freedom, and promises for the future (Association for Childhood Education International, 2011a). After 16 weeks of delving into culture and exploring early childhood issues on a global perspective, the course is coming to the end; however, the journey will continue.  So my question is what's next? 

Because "We Are the World"



Let these images resonate in your mind, and then cause you to get involved.  When we work together to make a change, we are no longer a "small voice," but a boisterous voice crying out on behalf of the children.

References:


Association for Childhood Education International (2011a).  The decade for childhood 2012-2022. Retrieved from  http://www.acei.org/acei-statements/the-decade-for-childhood-2012-2022.html

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2013h). Introduction to global  perspectives on  development and learning. [Video].  Baltimore, MD: Author.