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"

http://youtu.be/qcwblvqir-s 

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.

 

 

Big Bang for Your Buck

On February 14, 2013, President Barack Obama spoke in Decatur, Georgia about early childhood education.  He stated, "The earlier child begins learning, the better they are down the road."  He did not elaborate on how young children are learning (play or academics) ,but Obama said that children across America are going to kindergarten on the first day behind.  Only 3 in 10, four year old children are enrolled in a highly qualified preschool.  If America invest $1 in early childhood education, we will save $7 later in the child's life.  Obama declared we get more bang for our buck when we invest in early childhood education.

While visiting Decatur, GA, Obama visited a classroom at the College Heights Learning Centers.  I thought if the president visited this early childhood center, it must be a special place.  However it was not the center that impressed me, it was the story on how they came to be.

In 1998, over 2000 Head Start children in the Atlanta area were attending facilities in deplorable conditions.  After realizing the need for a safe environment for children to learn, a group of philanthropists formed the Early Learning Project Management (ELPM) in 1999.  

ELPM’s mission is to build high quality early learning centers primarily in disadvantaged neighborhoods that provide high quality education and nurturing programs birth through five years old.   Over the past 12 years ELPM has purchased, renovated or constructed 13 high quality early education centers located in Fulton, DeKalb, Greene, Gwinnett and Paulding counties which has service over 15,000 children and families.  ELPM works with the community to allow potential owners to either buy or lease the property.  ELPM has formed also partnerships with colleges to form teaching labs at the facilities across the Atlanta area.  With these partnerships, a greater amount of centers benefit causing them to become better centers. 

Better centers, better children. Better children, better future!

If you would like to hear Obama's speech on early childhood education, click here: http://youtu.be/ZQco0ScAJRg

If you would to find out more about the Early Learning Project Management, click here:  http://www.elpm.org/index.php