America, Our Children, Ourselves
A Quest for Insight/Action
by
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"America, our Children, Ourselves" addresses the many concerns of our educational system in crisis. This message is a universal cry for insight/action.
Throughout my tenure as an educator, I’ve taught at the elementary and high school levels. I’ve lectured at the college level in the subject of Learning Resources in Education and curriculum. At the same time, I became extensively involved with the study of the educational process. Therefore, this study is an insightful conclusion as to where we are today, and how we must move ahead with hope, power, and action.
I found that my fundamental concerns were the relationship between education in its broadest scope and the dimension of living experiences that give value, meaning, wholeness and purpose to life. I also found that our time-tested virtues had been removed from the process and places on reserve.
It is now time for dads and moms to-be to re-visits the quality of their lives before conception. They need to know, without a doubt, that they have the power - - because of the standard of taste that they have chosen for themselves - - to empower their children by giving them a healthy physical, mental, and spiritual head start for life. They owe this to themselves, their children, and our world.
As parents begin to integrate their children into their family structure, a new ethic of commitment must help to preserve certain older values that Americans cherish. At the same time, however, they must safeguard new one that they are integrating into their personal family structure.
Researchers in the study of Child Development have proven that from birth to three years of age lay the foundation for future learning. They believe that this is the time when young children experience the joy of being loved, and the comfort and consolation of family life.
Because of this bonding in the family - - and as your child becomes older - - he or she will begin to understand a healthy family structure. He or she will begin to enjoy the freedom of secure well being. When this is achieved, a more caring attitude will become evident. Then the appreciation for the awe, mysteries and sacredness of live will come into focus.
When families have become empowered with a delicate standard of taste that is uncompromising, the members are ready to join other families and begin to establish church families. All will become teachers and learners in the process of educating.
Schools and communities are recipients of many kinds of families. It is at this time when parents, principals, teachers, school counselors, students, and other community organizations began the awesome task of preparing all for learning and living.
Today, more than ever before in our history, we must take an in-depth look the reasons why too many of our elementary and high school students are falling through the cracks of our educational system.
For example, beginning in the year 1996 and in one of our southern states, violence erupted in a school shooting. More and more school shooting occurred across our nation. They continue until this day. It seems to be an epidemic of violence.
I believe that today we have a lost generation who is looking for identity. Their cries are resounding loud and clear across our country. Have they truly gotten our attention?
As we develop insight that will bring about positive action into the declining character of our youth, we must never forget that they are the ones who will keep our country healthy and alive.
Even though the 16th President of America had the awesome responsibility of preserving the Union and ending slavery during the United States Civil War, he took time to remind the American People about the future of our country, our children/ourselves.
AND MAY WE BE REMINDED-- It has been recorded that Abraham Lincoln said, "A child is a person who is going to carry on what you have started. He is going to sit where you are sitting, and when you are gone, attend to those things you think are important. You many adopt all of the policies you please, but how they are carried out depends on him. He will assume control of your cities, states, and nations. He is going to move in and take over your churches, schools, universities, and corporations . . . the fate of humanity is in his hands."
Abraham Lincoln
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About the Book
This writing lights a vista of hope that leads to empowered action for today's troubled educational system. It also illuminates an in-depth and insightful view of the fact that too many of our time-tested virtues have been removed from the educational process and place on hold. I emphatically believe that the American people have the right to soar upward and surge ahead within our dynamic technological world. Nevertheless, we must never forget that if we're to continue to be the leading nation in the free world, we must reintegrate the many priceless virtues into our teaching as we teach for wholeness of person/purpose. We begin to do this as our dads and moms to-be make it possible for their children to begin life with a healthy mental and physical head start for development. Then the families, churches, schools, and communities must work interdependently to reinforce the needs of all students at every phase of learning. Then, and only then, will we be able to prepare our youth for living and leadership in our very complex world.
About the Author
Brookins, Naomi A is a long time resident of the Chatham Community located on the southeast side of the city of Chicago. She is an Elementary school teacher, a U.S. History teacher, a library/media specialist, a college lecturer, and a public speaker. She is an adult and teenage Bible teacher, an assistant superintendent of her church school, has created and directed many Easter, Christmas, and heritage plays. She has also helped to establish a Christmas Board of Education in her church and another church. She has established a church library in two other churches and worked extensively with missions. Naomi is the president of her community block club and continues to work with many churches and community organizations within the community of Chatham. Naomi holds an AA degree, BA degree in Education, an MS degree in library science, an MA in U.S. History, and did post graduate work at Northern Illinois University. Naomi is also a recipient of the Superior Serve Award for her work in the Chicago Metropolitan Area, a recipient of the Outstanding Community Resident Award for her time and effort of dedication to the 6th Ward Community; was director of Region 3 of Illinois Association for Media in Education, and since 1991 has been a Docent at Harold Washington Library Center. She spent twenty-five years of teaching for the Chicago Board of Education. There she touched the lives of many by leading then into thinking factually, subjectively, and reflectively about their vision for their lives, many subjects, and the world. She is also the proud mother of 4 sons. Naomi is now the published author of Naomi's Story: You Don't Have To Be Broken, and Youth Soaring Toward the Year 2001 By Making the Right Tough Choices Today. Her latest book waiting to be published is titled, America, Our Children, Ourselves: A Quest for Insight/Action.