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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 30, 2015)
Page 14 December 30, 2015 O PINION Only With Our Help Can Our Kids Succeed Let’s put our children’s needs before politics b rian l. p auling It’s the time of year parents receive a prog- ress report of their child’s academic perfor- mance after a fall term of being fully engaged in their classes. Some will be fine, meeting or exceeding expecta- tions for their grade level. Unfor- tunately, a significant number will already have fallen behind. Their academic success will be in jeop- ardy unless someone intervenes. To parents, teachers, administra- tors and community members, I say that someone is us! It’s up to us to work as a co- hesive and collaborative support system for our children. That will mean holding ourselves and each other accountable to ensure that each student has been taught and has learned the required course- work for their grade level and is ready to advance to the next grade, without remediation, by the end of the school year. by We are expecting a lot from our children, but what, in turn, should our children expect from us? As parents, students should expect us to be actively involved in their education. We must en- sure the learning-readi- ness basics are mastered at home: sufficient sleep, on-time school arrival, safe after-school care, and qual- ity homework assistance, provided either by us or someone we find to help, such as a student in a higher grade, a college student, or a non- profit organization, like 100 Black Men of America, Inc., whose local chapters offer mentoring and tuto- rial programs. Then we must move to an even higher level of engagement. For instance, we should communi- cate regularly with our child’s teachers. Join the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at our child’s school. Attend school board meetings. Advocate for the needs of our children, their school, teachers and district. Educate ourselves about the best available education options in our com- munities, from traditional pub- lic schools to nonprofit charter schools. If students do their part and we as parents do ours, then our children also should expect their teachers and administrators to provide instruction, experiential learning opportunities and school environments that breed and boost success. Our children should expect their teachers to demonstrate that capable and well-trained profes- sionals who teach in compelling and creative ways. Our students should also ex- pect the support of people in their communities – even those without school-aged children – because these students are destined to im- pact the community through their positive contributions or negative When some children fail to make the grade, they should expect that their teachers and school staff won’t let them flounder, but use proven intervention strategies to get them back on track. they believe that all children can learn at high levels. When some children fail to make the grade, they should expect that their teachers and school staff won’t let them flounder, but use prov- en intervention strategies to get them back on track. Our children should expect their teachers to be degradations. Visit a local school and ask how you can volunteer. Partner with a local school and offer your services or the exper- tise and resources of your compa- ny or organization. Serve on a lo- cal school council. Get involved as a tutor, mentor, guest speaker or member of a booster club. Stand with school boards and policy-makers to advocate pub- licly for high-performing schools and better teacher evaluations and student assessments. All are vital ways community members can support our students’ overall success and make a difference in their lives. We at 100 Black Men of Amer- ica know that our children are more than capable of being aca- demically successful. Let’s pro- vide access to educational oppor- tunities that equip students to be competitive. Let’s set high expec- tations for student achievement, remove obstacles to progress and provide proper interventions and support systems. We will demon- strate our unwavering belief in our students by working side by side with other concerned par- ents, teachers, administrators and community members throughout the school year. Let’s put our children’s needs before politics and make our na- tion’s schools the best they can be, so all of our students can become the best they can be. Brian L. Pauling is the national president and chief executive offi- cer of 100 Black Men of America, Inc. Changing the Conversation on Childhood Development Experiences shape our biology source. But if our actions are the measure, do we really mean it? Mounting research evi- dence from neuroscience, pub- lic health, economics and so- cial science supports a simple by d r . r enée conclusion: investing in early b oynton -J arrett childhood, through affordable Americans are early childcare and enrichment fond of saying that our children opportunities, pays dividends for are our nation’s most valuable re- the individual and for society. Avalon Flowers 520 SW 3rd Ave., Portland, OR 97204 • 503-796-9250 Cori Stewart-- A full service flower experience • Birthdays • Anniversaries • Funerals • Weddings Owner, Operator Open: Mon.-Fri. 7:30am til 5:30pm Saturday 9am til 2pm. Website: avalonflowerspdx.com email: avalonflowers@msn.com We Offer Wire Services Yet we know that not all chil- dren have an opportunity to ex- perience high-quality early child- care—and it’s because we have chosen not to support universal access. Scientific research supports the long-term value of creating the conditions children need for a strong start. We also know how to scale and support effective so- cial and educational programs and make them accessible. Why, then, aren’t we commit- ted to ensuring these opportuni- ties? Political discussions about ear- ly childhood generally center on parents’ choices and responsibil- ities. We expect parents to make good decisions for their young children. But wouldn’t a tighter safety net of opportunities and support make good decisions easi- er, and make parents less likely to stumble in their efforts? We need a new conversation, one that places what is optimal for children at the center. That’s what The Raising of America, a new documentary se- ries, is trying to do. I’m proud to be a part of the film, which probes how conditions faced by young children and their families form the foundation for future suc- cess— and brings to light the con- sequences of our failure to provide adequate support for parents rais- ing young children. In recent years, medical pro- fessionals have learned that health is profoundly influenced by fac- tors outside the healthcare system. Study after study has shown that social determinants influence the ways our biological systems op- erate. We also know that children who live in environments with a lot of concentrated disadvantage and in high-stress home envi- ronments are most likely to have adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs. A higher prevalence of ACEs can affect their emotional regulation, which in turn can im- pair optimal learning. Yet with all of this knowledge, we still haven’t bridged the gap between data and practice. It strikes me that as a society we have accepted that the chal- lenges parents face are all “just part of raising a child.” That the stress of trying to balance time and cost against what’s best for our kids is now the norm. That it’s not imperative to offer all children the opportunity to expe- rience the high-quality early care they need to succeed. The truth is that families can- not do it alone. It’s my hope that the larger conversation we’re launching—through ongoing re- search and with The Raising of America—will prompt a closer look at how we can develop an opportunity agenda for our na- tion’s children, and steer a course that puts children front and cen- ter. I hope this is the moment when society says, “This is not our goal. It doesn’t have to be this way. We can change the experience of childhood. Let’s get started.” Dr. Renée Boynton-Jarrett is a Boston Medical Center pedi- atrician and researcher. She is founding director of Vital Vil- lage, a network of residents and agencies committed to maximiz- ing child, family and community wellbeing.
