There have been many failed efforts to help save New Orleans Children. Councilman James Carter just threw in the towel. Now comes Spike Lee, with millions to spend on messages to our boys. The city has invested more in NORD, the New Orleans Recreation Department. Educators are building shiny new school buildings. But unfortunately, they all either don’t understand or refuse to accept the root cause of the problem: the failure for our community to provide the foundation it takes to build a successful life.
It’s what many of us had growing up – good care, good health and a good education. How could we possibly have succeeded without these benefits? Well, let’s face it, kids can’t succeed without them either. They know it and cry out for it. Listen to the guns, the failures, the drop-outs, the drug dealings, the prostitution, the teen-aged pregnancies. If these are the only choices they have, they take them.
Not by sending messages but by delivering services, Spike Lee’s $1 million could help put our school children on the path to success. Providing those services is what do through the Early Childhood & Family Learning Foundation’s Coordinated Health Program.
That million dollars could assure that every public school child who needs glasses or hearing assistance gets appropriate equipment, is up to date on their immunizations and, most importantly, has a professional health team to identify and deal with any other physical, mental or social roadblocks to learning.
Where our Foundation’s programs have been implemented, there is progress. The 200 children who needed glasses to see the LEAP test now have them – and have passed the test! The 150 children who couldn’t hear are now sitting in the front of the classroom and have hearing aids or other hearing treatments. Many of the children who have conflict or behavioral problems in school are now being provided professional help. And along the way, parents and teachers are better able to understand the issues and become part of the solutions.
Its not brain surgery! Having every school child healthy and productive enough to graduate to college or a decent job would move New Orleans forward by leaps and bounds. The return on investment is immeasurable!
Phyllis Landrieu is chief executive officer and co-founder of the Early Childhood & Family Learning Foundation, which hosts its annual gala on Saturday.
There have been many failed efforts to help save New Orleans Children. Councilman James Carter just threw in the towel. Now comes Spike Lee, with millions to spend on messages to our boys. The city has invested more in NORD, the New Orleans Recreation Department. Educators are building shiny new school buildings. But unfortunately, they all either don’t understand or refuse to accept the root cause of the problem: the failure for our community to provide the foundation it takes to build a successful life.
It’s what many of us had growing up – good care, good health and a good education. How could we possibly have succeeded without these benefits? Well, let’s face it, kids can’t succeed without them either. They know it and cry out for it. Listen to the guns, the failures, the drop-outs, the drug dealings, the prostitution, the teen-aged pregnancies. If these are the only choices they have, they take them.
Not by sending messages but by delivering services, Spike Lee’s $1 million could help put our school children on the path to success. Providing those services is what do through the Early Childhood & Family Learning Foundation’s Coordinated Health Program.
That million dollars could assure that every public school child who needs glasses or hearing assistance gets appropriate equipment, is up to date on their immunizations and, most importantly, has a professional health team to identify and deal with any other physical, mental or social roadblocks to learning.
Where our Foundation’s programs have been implemented, there is progress. The 200 children who needed glasses to see the LEAP test now have them – and have passed the test! The 150 children who couldn’t hear are now sitting in the front of the classroom and have hearing aids or other hearing treatments. Many of the children who have conflict or behavioral problems in school are now being provided professional help. And along the way, parents and teachers are better able to understand the issues and become part of the solutions.
Its not brain surgery! Having every school child healthy and productive enough to graduate to college or a decent job would move New Orleans forward by leaps and bounds. The return on investment is immeasurable!
Phyllis Landrieu is chief executive officer and co-founder of the Early Childhood & Family Learning Foundation, which hosts its annual gala on Saturday.
Posted: 2012-10-05 18:56:48
