^ ortlanh (Ober ruer
August 31. 2011
On Mission to Change the Statistics
c o n t i n u e d f r o m fron t
uvuig U1C II1OSI successful.
*
“W ithin every county in the
Founded in 1965 by the Johnsoi
country, a Head Start exists,” said
Administration as part of the war oi
Herndon. “But two major challenges
poverty, Head Start has served mori
lay ahead.”
than 27 million children and familie;
Efforts have been made by poli
since its inception.
ticians to cut the funding or get rid
“For children who have not have
of Head Start, despite all of the re
had experiences like Head Start, they
search.
often go into kindergarten and might
This is a huge problem , he said.
*
not know all of the colors, how to
Head Start is currently able to
write their names or many numbers,”
serve only 30 to 40 percent o f the
he said. “But all the things that
kids eligible for the program. “This
could keep kids from doing well in
is alm ost like you have discov
school, we have put an emphasis
ered the vaccine for Polio, but you
on.”
can only give it to 30 percent o f
Herndon said most of the families
the children.”
at Albina Head Start have children
His second concern lingers
enrolled in full-day services, which,
around the quest by many stake
which extend from 7 in the morning
holders to try to make a Bachelors
until 5:30 at night.
Degree mandatory to become a
“We concentrate on reading,
teacher within the program. He said
math, shapes and helping kids learn
this is troublesome because, since
how to learn the alphabet, an em
its creation. Head Start has hired
phasis on learning about nutrition,
people from within the communities
health care and how to interact with
of those they serve.
other children and how to share,” he
“The more troubling part is that
said.
given all the information that is out
“These are learned behaviors,”
there, it appears to me, there is no
he said. ‘And if you can help kids go
correlation between a college de
into kindergarten with skills, than it
cree and a good teacher,” he said.
is more likely they will be successful
Herndon emphasized the impor-
in school.”
ance in a college education, but
Herndon also said one of the
aid there is no compelling research
biggest benefits of Head Start, which
hat a college degree equals a better
is probably the least realized, is the
lead Start teacher.
emphasis the program puts on health
Still, he is dedicated to continue
care for children.
3 help families and children receive
He said data that came out during
the encouragement and preparation
theBush administration gave credit Podland activist and director o f Albina Head Start R o ™ d o ^ T e ' i ^ ^
to help them have an equal chance
to Head Start for reducing the child- parents, mentors end the community is the main f a c t o , ' h a ^
to both do well in school and in
hood mortal,,y rate by 50 percent, education that w i„ enabie them to graduate from coitege or b e c o m Z c c e s s ^ e
crease their quality of life.
He said he was grateful to have
been hired in 1975.
Health care and nutrition educa
And after working as the director
tion are important, he said, because of Albina Head Start over three de
by the time the children enter school, cades ago, Herndon said, “I am just
they have already discovered most as privileged and grateful now as I
issues that could prevent them from was then.”
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