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Monday, July 25, 2011

Jerry Large | The state of America's children | Seattle Times Newspaper

Jerry Large | The state of America's children | Seattle Times Newspaper

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.

Seattle Times staff columnist

quotesThe problem isn't with the children, it's with the adults! Read more
quotesI agree that it's shortsighted to think the problem only affects children of color... Read more
quotesWhile I really appreciate and agree with the message this article/writer is trying to... Read more

The 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