"Children are
likely to live up to what you believe of them."
-Lady Bird Johnson, former U.S. first lady
This quote is meaningful to me because, so many children do not
have someone in their lives to encourage them to do great things; they do not
have someone who trust and believe in their abilities to be successful in life.
Today I was talking to someone who was heartbroken because, a little girl’s dad
did not have high expectations for her. The little girl has endured a rough
life and now this woman was trying to make a difference. She tried to uplift
the child and let her know that she is great and can accomplish great things,
if she worked hard and applied herself. The little child’s father said, “If she
makes any grade other than a D or F, that will be fine with me.” How could a
father think so little of his child; knowing all of the horrible things, she
has had to endure in her previous household. Parents and educators, this is a
good example of how you should NOT treat your child or student. As this quote
said, "Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them,"
so BELIEVE big!
"Safety and
security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and
public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our
society, a life free of violence and fear."
"There can be no
keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its
children."
- Nelson Mandela, former president South
Africa
Both of these quotes by
Mr. Mandela are very touching in so many ways. As many of you know, he recently
died; and his legacy will live on. He has helped so many people all over the
world to raise awareness of rights of children and others in need. These quotes
show his compassion for children; how vital they are to the inter-workings of
our world. Our children are vulnerable and they need to
have a sense of safety and security, not only in their home, but also in their
schools and their immediate environment. Violence and fear is something many
children face each day, in Mississippi, Texas, Mexico, Africa, and in other
parts of the world; this creates stressors and it impedes growth and
development. Let us raise awareness to everyone on how to treat our children
and let us keep them safe from violence, war, poverty, sickness, hunger, and
death.
