How can you not be impressed if you heard the story of
Almeta Richards Keys, a Head Start parent in Louisiana 35 years ago who is
currently the Executive Director of a parent child center in Washington, D.C.?
Because of her involvement as a parent in the Head Start programs, she was able
to empower herself by cultivating the systems of Head Start and the process of
rules and regulations. One of her four Head Start children got a Master’s
degree in Engineering (Keys, 2011).
You would have to be likewise impressed with Zachary James
who had 8 Head Start children; Zachary decided to learn how to read so that he
can read books to the daughter who kept asking him to read books to her. He
learned how to read, got his GED, and started reading books to his children!
Imagine the influence that action had on his children; it showed how much
Zachary valued reading that he went back to school to read and become more
engaged with his daughter when they both read books! I know the importance of
parents and children reading books together because I attribute our family’s
nightly reading ritual to our children’s eventual academic success.
Those stories evoke inspiration when they are told in first
person. Those stories illuminate the outcomes and the data that cannot begin to
tell the personal stories of parents whose lives are turned around because of
Head Start involvement in the lives of their children and themselves.
Head Start involvement breaks what is frequently a vicious
cycle and creates a community where parents such as Zachary James and Almeta
Richard Key become involved for future generations. I know that James’ daughter
will always remember how her father learned to read just for her; and that is
very empowering kind of love. Key invested in becoming involved in the Head
Start program committees, and her son was able to get his Master’s in
Engineering! Oftentimes, all they needed was this one break and words of
encouragement.
Ashline (2013) outlined five reasons why we should volunteer
at our children’s school. They are:
1.
It takes a village.
2.
A little goes a long way.
3.
Everyone has something to offer.
4.
Your child will benefit.
5.
You’ll feel good.
Some families have resources to volunteer at their children’s
schools. Head Start programs make it possible and easier for parents to
volunteer at their children’s childcare and educational programs, and the
entire village benefits. Then, you’ll also feel good.
References
Ashline, J. (2013).
5 reasons you should volunteer at your child’s school. The Orange County Register.
Retrieved from: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/child-374635-reasons-volunteer.html
James, Z. (2008).
Parent interview. 36th Annual National Head Start Training
Conference. Retrieved from: http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/hs/about/stories/pfs/videos/000640-NHSA%20Parent%20Interview%20Zachary%20James-2008.pdf
Keys, A. R.
(2011) Parent and family stories. Head Start. Retrieved from: http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/hs/about/stories/pfs/videos/ParentInterview.htm/000407-Parent%20Interview%20Keys.pdf
Marla,
ReplyDeleteI agree that these stories are inspirational and hearing them makes them real. It's not just the children that benefit from Head Start, it's the whole family! It does take a village! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Margie
Marla,
ReplyDeleteLovely post! The stories that we heard were definitely inspiring. I agree that we should rely on testimonies like this to show outcomes and success of the programs.
Something I read in your post that I hadn't thought of is how head start not only gives children a positive start in their education and in their lives, but it breaks the cycle sometimes of education barriers, and family problems.
Thank you for sharing,
Brandi