Children Showing Slower Growth Rates---High Achievers 'At Risk'

This week I listened to a news report detailing a slower growth rate of children over the last year. You and I know all parts of a child grow more slowly when their body isn’t growing, including their brain.  This is concerning. 

 While Lady Liberty welcomes all, the streets are NOT paved with gold as my GErman grandparents were told, they are paved with the sweat of hard work and low wages. And for families with student loans? Ouch. Those payments will return.  What can we do to advocate for better, and maybe more, food for our students?

Ne er Enough--The author describes high achieving students ‘as 'at risk’.  Students are pressured to participate in community service projects.  Students enrolled in Advanced courses, perhaps through the community college.  Students travel miles on the weekends to play competitive sports.  The term ‘at risk’ took me by surprise.  Seriously? What about the children living in poverty, who live with fewer resources than they need? What about students who witness violent acts or have insecure housing? If a child is in pain, the child is in pain. 

 Emptiness, anxiety, and depression-- add in sadness and hopelessness. Let’s not forget the impact of social media.  Will I be enough?  According to the book, “students feel they only matter to the adults their lives, their peers, the larger community, if they are successful.”

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