Words of Inspiration and Motivation

"Another thing which [the teacher] must learn is to be quiet because she must not give lesssons and, therefore, she must not give discourses. How many times does the impulse to talk at length come spontaneously! Another thing which the teacher must learn is to contain, to hold back the impulse to intervene, to counsel or advise" -Maria Montessori

"We don't pretend to have all the answers to economic development, but we're quite certain that investing in early childhood education is more likely to create a vibrant economy [rather] than using public funds to lure a sports team by building a new stadium or to attract an automaker by providing tax breaks" - Arthur Rolnick

Personal Childhood Web

Some of the people who nurtured and cared about me as a child

 

Godfather Ramos

                        Ramos was mostly a figure in my life as a child that was stable, laid-back, trustworthy and comforting. He was friend of the family and often him and his wife would invite me over to hang out and go special places with them. The memories I have are: feeling secure in sitting on his broad should watching cartoons, watching him work in the garage, being allowed to sit on his lap to steer the truck (we live where there are a lot of dirt roads), and traveling to fairs and pow-wows. He gave me the assurance that there are men and grandfather like figures that can be trusted. Mostly his voice and words were always funny, calming and without out judgment.

Mother

            She was a stable figure in my world in a midst of chaos. I always new that I was loved, cherished, and looked up to. I remember a lot of laughter between us. I also new that she would always make sure that I had “nice” clothes, shelter, love and food. The most everlasting influence was no matter where or when if we departed even for a brief period of time she always verbally said that she loved me, with a kiss. And what our relationship has been up to now is filled with much more learning and growth.

Father

            He was another stable and reliable figure in my life, no matter what the distance between us may be. The childhood memories that are most prominent are cuddling together in the big recliner, hanging out watching movies, hugging his round belly, him hardly ever say “no” to me!, and taking me to amusement parks, shopping, and national tourist spots. He could have been easily labeled as “the Disneyland Dad”, but he wasn’t. I mostly felt from him the joy of spending time with me, the confusion of making the right decisions for me, and the pain he felt when I left him after a visit. I also admired and was inspired by all his books and music, and the big law school he attended with the huge library and the yummy peanut store across that street. He taught me patience. A saying he always said (with a chuckle) when we were driving was “The worst that can happen is we get lost”. This saying has stayed with me literally and metaphorically, because with my dad it was always the journey not the destination and still is.

Cousin Kathe

            I attribute all my yearnings for growth, knowledge, and exploration to her. She spent so much time in showing me the world. A world on the map, a world of books, a world of culture, a world of family history, a world of paintings, a world of museums, and exposure to languages, instrument, and the importance of education. This created a large foundation in my successes.

"Guess How Much I Love You" by Sam McBratney

I love this children's book for various reasons. This book was shared with me in my late teens when a good friend had a baby and I was closely exposed to motherhood and infancy, and  I observed how strong a mother's love is no matter what the "outside" circumstances may be. I then bought this book when I was pregnant with my first child, and continued to read it to both my children. This book has always connected me to experiences of unconditional love. Also, as a teacher it brings in a reminder in the classroom that a child has someone that loves them...

National Head Start Petition, One Window of Oppurtunity

https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/%21/petition/champion-investment-head-start-window-opportunity-vulnerable-children/rytT3Ylq?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl

Keep The Window Open

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Has Head Start touched your life?

Right now, more than 6,343,000 American children under 6 years old are living lives shaped by hunger, stress, and need. Head Start can offer them a way out, but only a fraction of eligible children are able to attend.
Let's show the country and Congress how important Head Start's Window of Opportunity can be for America's most vulnerable children. One Window of Opportunity (below) gives a child's view on the difference an early education experience can make.

Every story is important! 

Share your story. If Head Start has touched your life, tell the world how. Watch the video. Tell others to watch it. Then make your own. Or, write your story.
We will collect and present your videos and stories. They will become part of the history of Head Start. They will also become a powerful tool we can use to convince those who are skeptical about the value of investing in early childhood education.So get your smart phone or video camera and get started!

And how are the children?

And How Are the Children?
Among the many fabled and accomplished tribes of Africa, no tribe
was considered to have warriors more fearsome or more intelligent than
the mighty Masai. It’s surprising, then, to learn the traditional greeting
passed among the Masai warriors; “Casserian Engeri,” one would always
say to each other. And what it meant was, “And how are the children?”
It is still the traditional greeting of the Masai, acknowledging the high
value the Masai placed on the children’s well being. Even warriors with no
children of their own would always give the traditional answer, “All the
children are well.” This meant, of course, that peace and safety prevail; the
priorities of protecting the young and the powerless are in place; that the
Masai people had not forgotten their reason for being, their proper function,
and their responsibilities.
“All the children are well” means life is good. It means the daily
struggles of existence, even among poor people, include the proper care of
the young and defenseless.
I wonder how it might affect our consciousness of our own children’s
welfare if we took to greeting each other in the same daily question, “And
how are the children?”
I wonder, if we heard that greeting passed along to each other a
dozen times a day, whether it would begin to make a difference in the
reality of how children are thought of and cared for in this country. I
wonder what it would be like if every adult among us—parent and nonparent
alike—felt an equal weight of responsibility for the daily care and
protection of all the children in our town, in our state, and in our country. I
wonder whether we could truly say without hesitation, “The children are
well. Yes, all the children are well.”
What would it be like if the President began every press conference, every
public appearance by answering the same question: “And how are the children, Mr.
President?” If every governor of every state had to answer the same question at every
press conference: “And how are the children, Governor? Are they well?”
Wouldn’t it be interesting to hear their answer?
-Adapted by Pat Hoertdoerfer from a speech by Rev. Dr. Patrick T. O'Neill