Earlier this week I had a unique opportunity to help out a friend. She asked me if I could take one of her English Language students to the optometrist. Fadumo is a refugee woman who left Somalia with her family in 2004. She greeted me, tucked behind a colorful head scarf with a quiet handshake and a "pleased to meet you." The Lion's Club had agreed to pay for her eye exam and a pair of glasses. During the doctor visit we learned she has severely impaired vision and permanent nerve damage that causes twitching - likely sustained from the warlords rifle to that back of her head. A new set of glasses will help significantly with her ability to see and master English. On the drive home I asked her what she likes and dislikes most about the United States. She said to me, "I like everything here, everything." Then in her broken English she added, "The education here, I love it! It is good for my head and she touched her head and then pausing she added, "It is good for me," and she touched her heart. It was an important reminder to me of how important our public education system really is. In fact, I believe it to be the most valuable quality of this country. Because every single child is given the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills here, we are a country with unlimited possibility.
I feel incredibly proud to be a spokesperson for our public schools and an advocate for our children. Welcome to my first newsletter! The purpose behind our children's movement is to unite the deciding public in concern for children and commitment to excellent public schools.
The goals of the movement are to: * Build the momentum that will lead us to improve education * Empower and educate parents, teachers, and students * Shine the light on success from people to programs
Included in each newsletter will also be important resources. Richard Lakin, author of Teaching as an Act of Love, is so graciously offering a free download of his book. Please help spread the word by forwarding this link to other teachers and parents. Lakin provides us with vivid and engaging examples of what public schools can and should look like. Free E-Copy of TEACHING AS AN ACT OF LOVE http://bit.ly/9izOeu. Visit Richard's website: www.thanks2teachers.com
Here are some other ways for you to help grow the Children's Movement: 1. Write and call your representatives in Congress and in the state legislature and request that they leave behind NCLB and test driven reforms then direct financial resources to smaller class sizes and learning that is personalized, not standardized.
2. Encourage bookstores and libraries to carry Seeds of Tomorrow; Solutions for Improving our Children's Education, if they don't already. We need your help to spread the message far and wide.
3. Reach out to radio, television, and print media sources recommending me for future broadcasts, so we can connect with others. For easy reference, the Seeds of Tomorrow media kit is available at this link: http://www.angelaengel.com/angela-engel-media
4. Recommend that school faculties use Seeds of Tomorrow as a common read. Teachers and parents are beginning to adopt Seeds for their book clubs and literary discussions.
"pleased to meet you." The Lion's Club had agreed to pay for her eye exam and a pair of glasses. During the doctor visit we learned she has severely impaired vision and permanent nerve damage that causes twitching - likely sustained from the warlords rifle to that back of her head. A new set of glasses will help significantly with her ability to see and master English. On the drive home I asked her what she likes and dislikes most about the United States. She said to me, "I like everything here, everything." Then in her broken English she added, "The education here, I love it! It is good for my head and she touched her head and then pausing she added, "It is good for me," and she touched her heart. It was an important reminder to me of how important our public education system really is. In fact, I believe it to be the most valuable quality of this country. Because every single child is given the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills here, we are a country with unlimited possibility.