This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Herald Leader on January 22, 2017. The hottest toy of this past Christmas season was Hatchimals — plastic eggs with one of two interactive creatures inside. The lucky recipient nurtures the egg, causing it to hatch; and after hatching, the creature inside learns to talk, walk and play games with the help of the child. Right about now, the egg is hatching. The same is true [...]
This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier Journal on December 28, 2016. I was genuinely touched and felt some steel in my patriotic veins as we paused to remember the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Even though I’m on the elder end of the Baby Boomer Generation, that “day of infamy” is still history to me, and I need frankly to be reminded of the lessons attendant to that terrible Sunday so long ago. [...]
An efficient and effective youth justice system holds kids accountable, helps them grow up to become contributing members of their community, and increases public safety. Kentucky has made strides in improving its youth justice system in recent years with the passage of SB 200 in 2014. This Christmas wish is from a parent of a teenager with autism who, as a 13 year old, inappropriately responded to what he perceived as a solution, and resulted [...]
This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier Journal on December 9, 2016. When I became a superintendent, my favorite day of the year was the first day of school. I would visit every elementary, middle and high school in the district, observing sparkly-eyed first-year students, who were full of excitement and anticipation about what the coming year would be like. It drove me to wonder, what can we do to maintain that sparkle? How [...]
This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier Journal on December 9, 2016. “Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.” -- James Baldwin I grew up in the Park Hill housing projects, the second of seven siblings in a single parent household. I didn’t realize we were poor back then because life felt abundant. We had a strong and vibrant family. My aunt sewed our [...]
By Amanda Bear Schools should be a safe, secure place for all children. A recent report released by Children’s Law Center, Inc. finds the use of restraint and seclusion on children in Kentucky schools is often unnecessary – especially for young children and/or students with a disability – and can be harmful. At the November meeting of the Juvenile Justice Oversight Council, myself along with Lucy Heskins of Kentucky Protection and Advocacy and Mr. and Mrs. [...]
This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier Journal on December 9, 2016. Join us at the Morning Meeting - a kindergarten ritual across classrooms in this state and country. At the start of each day, little ones are sitting on a colorful rug “criss-cross applesauce” style around their teacher sharing the calendar, reciting the days of the week, and discussing the weather. Children are then asked to volunteer their own personal good news for [...]
Last year we unveiled a new Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children with three cornerstones: thriving communities, strong families, and successful kids. Today, we’re launching the 2017 Blueprint policy priorities with partners and youth from across the state with those cornerstones in mind. We invite you to learn more about the Blueprint and to get involved! Read the 2017 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children policy priorities here. Learn more about the priorities and hear from decision makers in [...]
This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier Journal on December 9, 2016. I live in Lexington, but like most all native Eastern Kentuckians, the answer to the question, “Where are you from?” is that I was born and raised in a place called Stinking Creek in Knox County. That used to be embarrassing, but now I am proud of it. A few years ago, my father was told that his death was imminent [...]
This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier Journal on December 5, 2016. I’ve lived in Kentucky my entire life. I grew up like many other kids in the more rural areas of the Commonwealth. I grew up climbing trees in my backyard and playing in the creek near my house. Although many of the wonderful experiences I had as a child were fairly normal, my childhood overall was far from conventional. I am [...]
