I vote for kids. I’ve seen the bumper stickers. I’ve even wanted to sport one (though I am car-free), but I’ve also wondered what exactly it meant. Then an ARC of David L. Kirp’s Kids First came across my desk. I could not resist reading it. And, I must admit, I could not resist being caught up in its vision. Here is the kids first agenda as laid out by Kirp (who, by the way, is a professor at UC Berkeley):
- Give new parents strong support.
- Provide high-quality early education.
- Link schools and communities to improve what both offer children.
- Provide mentors to youngsters who need a stable, caring adult in their lives.
- Give kids a nest egg that helps pay for college or kick-start a career.
Kirp points out so many success stories from Head Start to Big Brothers Big Sisters, and I’d like to point out a a success story here in the Twin Cities. Bright Water Montessori School is the only nationally accredited preschool in North Minneapolis, and the first on the northside to recieve a 4-star rating from ParentAware. Bright Water is committed to North Minneapolis–to promoting peace in the, often very unpeaceful, neighborhood. My daughter attended Bright Water’s preschool program for a year, and we were thrilled with the education she received. I was continually impressed with the passion and commitment from the staff and the other parents. They are doing great things there, and I am pleased that my family was able to be part of it.
Learn more about this great school, and what it is doing for North Minneapolis, in this video:
“Excellent education doesn’t just happen in the suburbs or in South Minneapolis. It can happen anywhere.” –Ann Luce
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