Words of Inspiration and Motivation

Hey Everyone, It is week 4, 
This week I have learned a lot from professionals, educators and activists about Early Childhood Studies, how it was established, various contributions, how it has grown as a field and obstacles that need to be overcome. I have been inspired through their lifetime work, achievements, quotes and speeches and I have particularly been moved to ask questions about the educational system in my country and immediate community. Most of all, I have been pushed to look into the history and contributions made in the educational system, remarkable contributors dead and alive and their dream for education in my country. The quotes and speech excerpts I would like to share are from the two contributors in the Head start and Health and Well-being sectors in Early Childhood Education, and they are Marian Wright Edelman and Former President Lyndon B. Johnson.

I have grown to love Marian Edelman in just three days. In her commencement speech to the graduating class of Tarbut V'Torah in Irvine, she said"My generation learned that if we wanted to accomplish anything, we would have to get off the dime. Your generation must learn to get off the paradigm? It is the responsibility of every adult, parent teacher, religious leader and professional to make sure that young people hear what we have learned from life that helped us survive and succeed."  I love this excerpt particularly because it talks about working hard to see what we want into reality; my generation can be negligent and nonchalant, this is a wake up call for change. A quote said by Marian Edelman that I am in love with which I also shared earlier this week goes thus; "Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it”.  

MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN

Former President Lyndon B. Johnson contributed greatly in his time during the "War on Poverty" and one of his quote says, "Nothing matters more to the future of our country: not our military preparedness -- for armed might is worthless if we lack the brainpower to build a world of peace; not our productive economy -- for we cannot sustain growth without trained manpower; not our democratic system of government -- for freedom is fragile if citizens are ignorant.".

FORMER PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON

In the multimedia presentation provided in week 2, here is a quote I love about passion and motivation: Leticia Lara (A Regional Manager for Outreach and Professional development for 0-3) says "... when I think about my passion as a person I also embrace who I am, who I am also as a woman and what my family has taught me... that creates a foundation for my passion... my passion has been evolving through the years, its an ongoing process, its like a ripple...". Passion is unique and is all about individuality; it could be about change in the same sector of a society, but the approach, experience and desire for change differs from every individual; this is my interpretation of her view on passion.

In conclusion, here are quotes from a Yoruba activist for education once upon a time in Nigeria: “Any system of education which does not help a man to have a healthy and sound body and alert brain, and balanced and disciplined instinctive urges, is both misconceived and dangerous.” 

“In order to attain to the goals of economic freedom and prosperity, Nigeria must do certain things as a matter of urgency and priority. It must provide free education (at all levels) and free health facilities for the masses of its citizens.”

LATE OBAFEMI AWOLOWO

REFERENCE

http://www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/johnson/lbjforkids/edu_quotes.shtm

http://myhero.com/hero.asp?hero=marianedelman

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/marianwrig390612.html#oJ6tgELeuohzxlFd.99

 Laureate Education, Inc. (2010). The passion for early childhood. Baltimore: Author.

http://naijafacts.blogspot.com.ng/2013/01/quotes-by-obafemi-awolowo.html

IMAGES

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http://cooperproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/marianwrightedelman.jpg

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