What I like about the HCZ is that their motto is not just words, but words in action. The children receive a high quality education and are heavily involved in the community. I just received my first newsletter from the HCZ that featured an article about 4000 youth who competed in the HCZ's annual Summer Games. This event is one of the ways children can stay safe and actively engaged in the summer while developing lifelong healthy habits. This is just another great example of how the HCZ is making great strides in equity and excellence in Early Childhood education—helping children become their best selves for years to come!
Another link I found on the website was:
Here you will find a Section entitled Poems by Geoffrey Canada. The poem that caught my eye and touched my heart was Waiting for Whom? Every Early Childhood Educator should read this poem. It is gut wrenching and thought provoking. It is also a call to action. So many children have been tossed aside and not been given the opportunity of a high quality education. The concept of equity and excellence was lost on them and they fell through the cracks. We as Educators now have the opportunity to make a difference and save those children who are waiting for US to DO something!
Here is the poem:
Waiting
for Whom?
If
you asked me where it all went wrong,
And
why we find today
That
certain children’s lives are ruined,
Broken
dreams just tossed away.
I
would tell you a tale so sad to hear
You
might not believe it’s true.
It’s
true, it’s sad, and terribly bad.
The
question is: what will you do?
It
seems that it is not a crime,
And
not against the law,
To
miseducate millions of children
As
long as they are poor.
You
can fail them year, after year,
And
no one will give a damn.
That
is no one except you and me,
But
we’re quiet and injustice stands.
In
fact, adults seem to have the right
To
get paid while doing harm.
Even
if they have slapped and cursed,
And
pinched those little arms.
And
some do worse, lest we forget,
Those
who punch, demean, molest,
And
they get to stay, can’t be sent away.
Who
supports this system anyway?
I
ask who created this broken system,
Where
for decades poor children have failed?
And
why can’t we change such dysfunction
Where
for most, failed schools lead to jail?
And
who in the hell defends such a thing,
Where
the evidence is clear and true?
I,
for one, have said enough is enough,
I
hope I can count on you too.
Our
children are waiting for someone,
A
hero who’s ready to fight.
To
end decades of injustice,
To
know and to do what is right.
And
what I am saying is shocking,
But
what I am saying is true.
The
hero children are waiting for,
That
hero, it’s me and it’s you.
Geoffrey
Canada
February
2010
http://hcz.org/documents-and-publications/
http://wac.adef.edgecastcdn.net/80ADEF/hcz.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Waiting-for-Whom-no-date.pdf
No comments:
Post a Comment