The state of America's children
I just read something really scary: "The State of America's Children," the 2011 report from the Children's Defense Fund. The problems it cites aren't new, but too often we don't address them because our focus isn't what's best for the kids.
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Seattle Times staff columnist
The problem isn't with the children, it's with the adults! (July 24, 2011, by old man) Read moreThe fictional version of an apocalyptic future often has as its catalyst an alien invasion, or ravenous zombies, but in reality, the most likely cause would be shortsightedness.
I just read something really scary: "The State of America's Children," the 2011 report from the Children's Defense Fund (CDF). The problems it cites aren't new, but too often we don't address them because our focus isn't what's best for the kids. Two recent stories come to mind, a report on the atrocious disciplinary rate in Texas public schools, and rampant cheating on standardized tests in Atlanta public schools. In both cases, adults focused more on their own needs than on the needs of children.
The CDF report summarized the problems millions of children face:
"Millions of poor children of color are at increased ri