While at work yesterday I was doing screenings as usual. My intern and I got a group of second graders that are in need of academic help. Normal, right? Not so much. One girl said, "I really just want a pointer. It's a dollar, and my mom says that we do not have an extra dollar. She said Santa can't even afford one."
Really?!
Keep in mind that this girl was wearing clothes that clearly have not been washed in I'm too scared to think of how long. She said that Santa isn't even coming this year.
Another girl said, "I really wish that my parents would stop fighting. They woke me and my sister up last night because they were fighting. Not my brother, he slept through it."
Really?!
This child experiences this on a daily basis and is expected to show up at school to learn everyday. If she is saying this to me in a 2 minute conversation, I can only imagine what else is happening at home that she does not say.
This child deserves the best. Every child does. How is she expected to show up and focus enough to learn what she needs to know without a good night of sleep, support to get homework finished (it's surprising how many parents do not read to their children, how many do not have the skills to do so). This child will be expected to participate in high-stakes testing next year. How is she going to get to where she needs to be before then?
Keep in mind this are two children out of a school. These are not isolated incidents. How is our country going to move forward if we give support to the children without helping the parents?
Everyday that I go to work something happens that makes me so very thankful that I grew up with two parents that loved one another, supported their children, and are still involved in all of our lives. As much as I hated doing homework, I'm glad that someone took the time to ensure that I was learning. My career thus far has taught me that many children do no have this support.
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