Success by Six; Emily Baker

"Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army."

 

- Edward Everett

 

 

"He who opens a school door, closes a prison."

- Victor Hugo

 

 

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

 

- Nelson Mandela

 

"A human being is not attaining his full heights until he is educated."

 

- Horace Mann

 

 

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."

 

- William Butler Yeats

 

 

Education

 

 

       "If a child is not ready for first grade, then they will never catch up," "there are 10,000 children living in poverty in the tri-county area," "half of kindergarten students [in America]," "seven out of ten 4th graders can't read at a basic level" -- This forum was a real eye-opener for me. I had no idea that the children of America were struggling to such an extreme extent; especially so close to home... literally.

 

         Success by Six is a great program centered around a solid platform with three sharp points: education, income, and health. It has a goal that is incredibly valuable in every community in that it is aiming directly at providing the help for children that they may not find elsewhere or may not know that they need. United Way is tackling this issue from several solid angles; they are proving resources for children and giving advice to those closest to the children that will help them out. I particularly liked the idea of sending text messages to teen mothers to give them tips to help them raise their child.

 

      That said, I'm not sure if I would want to volunteer for Success by Six, but I am behind what they are doing one hundred percent. I have a lot of respect for Ms. Baker having found the perfect position for her and so ealry after graduating. It sounds like she started looking early, began to build experience, and worked super hard for something like she has as soon as she knew want she wanted to do.

 

       This is a huge issue everywhere in America, but, as we all know, Alabama isn't exactly at the top of the list for education, and the best way to tackle this problem is through programs like Success by Six that are aimed at the young'uns. It not only benefits the community, but also the children. I'm sure that it isnt fun to struggle in school so early on, live in a low-income family, and be unaware of how to stay healthy at such a young age.

      Success by Six is a great program and I can't wait to see the impact it makes on our community!