It seems appropriate that today is my first post on our new blog. Not only is it my birthday today, but also I want to tell you about our group seeing President Clinton and other leaders from Arkansas last night.
Back in the 90′s, I worked for President Clinton. I was fortunate enough to be the Secretary’s Regional Representative for the United States Department of Education for the six New England states. I had lived in New Hampshire for years and taught public school for twenty years. I already loved New Hampshire but I had the opportunity to fall in love with an entire region of the country. I visited over 3,000 schools during those eight years and felt like I was the luckiest person alive. I literally kissed or pinched cheeks from Vermont to Maine to Connecticut. I found that while I had loved my students from Ashland and Winnisquam and understood that they were mine, this was a whole new feeling.
I saw kids who had wonderful schools with everything you could imagine to enhance their chance for a successful education. Not ten miles away I saw children in buildings that needed repair and teachers and children who wanted desperately to find a way to meet their goals.
Guilford, Connecticut had magnificent schools. New Haven’s schools had tremendous needs. It is important for us to remember that the children who walked into these schools everyday were starting in very different places. If you have a nice, safe home and food to eat, you are starting way ahead of the child who doesn’t know where he is staying, if he will eat or see his parents. I believe that a lot of the time, we forget that all of those children belong to us! Therefore, the name, EVERY CHILD IS OURS is important to my story.
I made school visits daily. It was almost always the same. I would arrive, representing the President. All of the dignitaries would greet me. The Superintendent, the Principal, and the others were all there. There would also be the perfect child. This child was the most handsome, most intellectual, smelled great, and would never speak a bad word. This was the child that I was supposed to talk to and learn about the school. I would always look to the back of the room and lock eyes with the child I really needed to meet. As I said to the principal before we started our tour of the school, “Can that child come with us?” The look of horror passed across his face. “Oh… I don’t know, Bobby or Mary may be involved in something already.” I would say “Oh please, make that happen. That is the cutest child I have every seen.”
As I walked over to that child that nobody wanted me to meet, I believe I did see them with new eyes. You know that I am an Arkansan and I had to hug them. For some of those kids this was shocking. I said for all to hear, “You are adorable and I want you to show me your school along with all the others.” As I pointed to the “perfect” child, I wasn’t sure if these two could be more different but I knew in my heart that they were both mine. I am still waiting for all of America to feel that. I even did this in high schools from Lawrence, Mass. to Bridgeport, Conn. Every day I loved the children more and more, admired principals and teachers in an almost fiercely protective way and dreamed of finding ways to make it better for all of the children.
Every Child is Ours was born out of this. I discovered that many schools had books that they threw away every year while some schools had students who had never owned a book of their own. Martha’s Vineyard School collected books from students that we delivered to an inter-city school in Boston. On the day of the delivery, the students from Martha’s Vineyard had sent us case after case of wonderful books. We were going to distribute them right after the assembly. I saw a child steal a book and put it under his shirt. He was all of nine years old. I asked him why and he said, “I have never had a book before.” I said your school has lots of books. He said, “I wanted one of my own before you gave them all away.” I wrapped my arms around him, escorted him back to the pile of books where he carefully replaced his book and took him into the fancy reception that the school had set up for us. I asked if he wanted any food. He told me about his dad who took care of him and his two brothers since his mom left. He told me how hard it was and this “tough guy” became a marshmallow in front of my eyes. He got his books, but I received the best education in understanding.
Every Child is Ours is a result of seeing the children and how alike they all are. They have the same hopes and dreams and we can help them realize them.
President Clinton came to Martha’s Vineyard and met with the mayors of New England and asked them to help ECIO collect materials and books and distribute them to schools that needed them. The results were amazing. We had the help of so many from our mayors to the Coast Guard and the AFL/CIO. Of course, children benefited.
At the end of the Clinton Administration, we thought ECIO would continue as a part of government. It didn’t cost money and it helped children. Needless to say, that didn’t happen so Every Child is Ours is now a non-profit. We hope you will find our efforts heartwarming. I promise you will laugh and have a tear of two.
Last night was another night of coming full circle as President Clinton stood with many of our ECIO volunteers at a Blanche Lincoln rally. I have been to so many Clinton Rallies where we have joined forces for the betterment of all. Seeing so many leaders, current and past, from my home state made me know that I had to reach out to all of you.
We will show you our projects: the Delta of Arkansas; Acuña, Mexico; Kanana, South Africa; and wherever ECIO goes. You will see the common threads that weave through all of our lives.
Yes, Every Child is Ours!
