When public schools are judged by how much art and music they have, by how many science experiments their students perform, by how much time they leave for recess and play, and by how much food they grow rather than how many tests they administer, then I will be confident that we are preparing our students for a future where they will be creative participants and makers of history rather than obedient drones for the ruling economic elite.
— Mark Naison, Fordham professor and social justice activist (via ethiopienne)
Even though he is privileged, he doesn’t remember the bad times when we were eating Hamburger Helper (boxed food) and peanut butter and jelly, he remembers all the good times. I don’t want to raise this privileged kid, who’s out of touch, so I made him sit out the first semester and he has to get a job. He called his grandmother, he was like, ‘It’s hard out here, it’s hard to find a job.’ So I was like, ‘Yeah, I need you to know that.
I need him to see how real it is out here. It builds character. I told him, ‘College is like an investment. I’m investing my money in your future, and if I feel like you’re a bad investment, I’m taking my money back.
— Taraji P. Henson (On why she made her son Marcel sit out his first semester of college, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon)
Let’s face it, a mixed kid from Hawaii born to a single mom is not likely to become President of the United States. But in America it can happen because of education, because somebody gave me opportunity.
— President Obama in Golden, Colorado today (via barackobama)
I’m not in Chicago BUT I PROUDLY stand with Chicago teachers!
It is tragic what we do in the poorest neighborhoods, entrapping children in, first of all, child laws, which are truly stupid.
— Newt Gingrich is back with the crazy. He calls child labor laws “stupid,” and wants to replace janitors with poor kids. Full quote after the link. (via think-progress)
