This country is at war in Iraq. With each day another life filled with the hopes of the previous generation is cut short. Yesterday morning I attended the Memorial Day Event held at the corner of Watchung & 7th Street in Plainfield. I watched grizzled-old veterans who defended our country pay tribute to those who had made the ultimate sacrifice. Memorial Day to some means the start of the Summer. For others a long 3-day weekend. But when you think that many of the young men and women that have died (and are dying) serving our country were some of the best and brightest America had to offer it should give the holiday real meaning to all of us.
Imagine your son or daughter filled with life's possibilities having that light dimmed forever. Many experts say that the situation in Iraq is at a crisis point. Many including the President call the situation unacceptable. As a former U.S Marine I appreciate and respect the sacrifice of those brave souls, many just barely out of high school.
But Plainfield has a crisis of its own when it comes to its children and young adults and it is just as unacceptable. Too many of our best and brightest can't see success in their future. Too many are growing up without a strong desire to learn. To many have a perception of a future that is fatalistic. This is a crisis. Our crisis. Who crys out for our children? Many have made it their life's work to educate and mold these children into success stories. But we must do more. This community must make improving the lives and opportunities for our children a top priority.
To this end I a proponent of a multi-generational strategy which leverages the talent and experience of our seniors and retired professionals. By creating a platform where mentoring and internships become a regular component of our children's educational experience. Giving children an upclose look at real world professional applications. This connection between children and their elders has been lost almost entirely. It would bring our community back to a place it used to be. When the elders knew the names of the children in their community and had the relationship to make a difference.
My desire as councilman of the 2nd ward would to be to work with others professionals especially the Board of Education to implement new strategies that make programs like this available to our young people. We as a community must appreciate the gravity of the situation for our children and young adults. They look to us for leadership. They look to us for answers to problems they can't solve. Understand this, everything from our property value to our local economy is affected by the the quality of the educational opportunities made available to our young people.
This is our crisis Plainfield. We must succeed. Failure is not an option. Many of us were blessed with the opportunity of a good education supported by caring adults. Let's make it our mission to make sure the children of this community get that same chance.
--Tony Rucker--
Imagine your son or daughter filled with life's possibilities having that light dimmed forever. Many experts say that the situation in Iraq is at a crisis point. Many including the President call the situation unacceptable. As a former U.S Marine I appreciate and respect the sacrifice of those brave souls, many just barely out of high school.
But Plainfield has a crisis of its own when it comes to its children and young adults and it is just as unacceptable. Too many of our best and brightest can't see success in their future. Too many are growing up without a strong desire to learn. To many have a perception of a future that is fatalistic. This is a crisis. Our crisis. Who crys out for our children? Many have made it their life's work to educate and mold these children into success stories. But we must do more. This community must make improving the lives and opportunities for our children a top priority.
To this end I a proponent of a multi-generational strategy which leverages the talent and experience of our seniors and retired professionals. By creating a platform where mentoring and internships become a regular component of our children's educational experience. Giving children an upclose look at real world professional applications. This connection between children and their elders has been lost almost entirely. It would bring our community back to a place it used to be. When the elders knew the names of the children in their community and had the relationship to make a difference.
My desire as councilman of the 2nd ward would to be to work with others professionals especially the Board of Education to implement new strategies that make programs like this available to our young people. We as a community must appreciate the gravity of the situation for our children and young adults. They look to us for leadership. They look to us for answers to problems they can't solve. Understand this, everything from our property value to our local economy is affected by the the quality of the educational opportunities made available to our young people.
This is our crisis Plainfield. We must succeed. Failure is not an option. Many of us were blessed with the opportunity of a good education supported by caring adults. Let's make it our mission to make sure the children of this community get that same chance.
--Tony Rucker--
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