The
title of Hillary Clinton’s book, It Takes a Village
to Raise a Child, is taken from an old African proverb which
reflects the philosophy that children were a village’s
most critical resource for the future, and that everyone in
the village had a responsibility for assuring that this resource
was properly developed. However, in our society responsibility
for raising children is now taken to be the responsibility
of the individual parents. The results of this approach to
raising children have often been unfavorable.
In order for the future of our communities
and the Nation to be assured, it is essential that we bring
back the concept that the raising of children is the responsibility
of the entire community and not just the parents of individual
children. Under this concept, parents and other family members,
neighbors, the school system, and the community all play
a crucial role in assuring that every child has a healthy
upbringing and is capable of learning to become a successful
citizen of his/her community.
Two of the Nation’s leading experts,
Dr. Mohammad N. Akhter, Senior Associate Dean for Public
and International Health and Dr. Renee Jenkins, Chair, Department
of Pediatrics and Child Health will present the most current
scientific information on how to raise healthy children.
Recommendations will be directed to specific groups including
parents, the school system, community leaders, and others,
and they will be urged to put the scientific information
on the raising of healthy children into practice
The
future does not just happen it is created. Therefore, to
create the desired future, take the necessary steps to assure
it.
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