Dear John,
There are school teachers in America — doing one of the most important jobs in our society — having to work more than one job, pay for classroom supplies themselves, and take on roles in the school they were not prepared for.
By failing our teachers, we are failing our children. Failing our children, we are failing our society. And failing our society, we are failing ourselves.
That is why I’ve made the needs of children such a cornerstone of my campaign. As President, I would have a 10-year goal: that every school in America will be a palace of learning, culture, and the arts. But that will take more than just educational funding; it means we must address issues of poverty, domestic violence, and all the attendant issues that cause trauma in a child’s life.
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Children are at serious risk throughout America. Many public schools have “trauma rooms.” I’ve met elementary school principals who told me they had students on suicide watch! We need to ask ourselves what is going on in this country that childhood itself is so routinely a trauma for millions of children?
And we’re the only advanced country in the world where so much of our educational funding is based on property taxes, ensuring that more financially advantaged kids will get a higher quality education in far too many cases. How does this align with our commitment to justice for all? Surely it does not.
All that is why we need a Department of Children and Youth! One of my first acts as President would be to convene the greatest minds in America on the topic of early childhood. But whether I ever become President or not, I'm committed to mainstreaming this conversation so it penetrates the field of political resistance to giving adequate attention to the state of America's children.
Thank you for your continued support. It means so much that we're still out there! I spoke to wonderful groups of people in Chicago over the last couple of days and I’m on my way to Tucson today, continuing the conversation about things that matter most. We must harness the angels of our better nature in the service of a repaired and sustainable society. |
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