The website that I chose last week was the National Head Start Association. Their focus is to
"To lead.To be the untiring voice that will not be quiet until
every vulnerable child is served with the Head Start model of support
for the whole child, the family and the community.
To advocate.To
work diligently for policy and institutional changes that ensure all
vulnerable children and families have what they need to succeed" National Head Start Association. I respect their vision for children, and it is a long and tiring vision, but it well worth it to see the success of these children!
While I awaited information on how to subscribe to one of their newsletters, I decided to read an article that they attached to their page. This article is from the Tampa Bay Times http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/column-to-cut-head-start-is-to-scar-floridas-future/2141024. It is about how the budget to Head Start has affected children in their local community.
Due to the recent federal budget cuts, more than 1,200 children lost their placements at educational centers. This number does not include the teachers that lost their jobs, and parents that are in jeopardy of losing their jobs. With funding being cut short children have no access to reliable childcare. Parents have no one that they can call on for help. This articles talks about two children that have developmental delays, and what kind of quality care are they receiving at home? They fear that children are left in front of the television instead of being stimulated by smiling faces and teachers that care. What is going to happen to these children?
These stories break my heart. I cannot fathom why budget cuts would be made to such innocent children, who need education the most at these beginning stages. Do Congressmen and Senators not see what this long-term affects could be? I know of one Senator that understands.
Our Missouri Congressman came out to our local Woodland Early Learning Community School to discuss the progress that has been made. I cannot explain how excited I am to be apart of this project! Ever since our new director started last year in December, he has made it his mission to make a change with the families and the communities of the Kansas City area. Within this short time span he has gotten people to understand the importance of these children's education, and he is making a change! I cannot wait to see what happens in the upcoming years working for these people! I encourage you to read this article, it shows what kind of change you can make when the right people understand. http://governor.mo.gov/newsroom/2013/Gov_Nixon_announces_funding_for_Kansas_City_area_early_childhood_education_projects
Head Start is a great program and I just don't understand why they keep cutting the funding. They steady complain about how America's Children are behind other countries, but yet the first things that do is Cut Money in Education, Which is where the money needs to be sent if you ask me. I think the government fails to realize what cutting these programs does to our children. Without this program a lot of children will never get that early school experience that they need meaning coming into Kindergarten they are all ready going to be behind.
ReplyDeleteI agree Chawanda! It has been a popular discussion with myself and a friend about how the government is on a mission to make everyone lazy and dumb. Cutting early childhood funds continues the viscous cycle of one's socioeconomic status. In attending a early childhood program, they are more likely to get out of that status.
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