Education
is the most powerful tool of change that we have at our disposal. Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. said, in his essay, “The Purpose of Education,” that “The
function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically,
intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education. The complete
education gives one not only the power of concentration but worthy objectives
upon which to concentrate. The broad education will, therefore, transmit
to one not only the accumulated knowledge of the race but also the accumulated
experience of social living.
This
is as true today as when he said it over 65 years ago. Because what society
exists without the ultimate goal being to enrich its members? What community
system is there, regardless of type or size—that does not strive to educate all
of its members in some form or the other, regardless of age, gender, or race?
With
our rapidly evolving and diverse community here in Plainfield, we need to ask
ourselves how these changing demographics affect the way we educate our
children. How do we ensure that each child regardless of ethnicity or place of
origin receives the same quality education and the same opportunities? How do
we educate each one for success?
Studies
have shown that minorities benefit greatly from high-quality preschool
education. Not all children are equally ready to learn when they enter
kindergarten. For those who start out behind (and that often includes
low-income and minority children), it can be difficult to catch up. In
response, many states have initiated prekindergarten programs to promote school
readiness and close achievement gaps.
To
this end, my administration is actively seeking means to fund a program we call
Plainfield Promise. One of the goals of Plainfield Promise is to open an
account of $500 for every single preschooler here in Plainfield. The aim is to
help them learn financial literacy, as well as critical money management
skills, which will be invaluable to them later in life. This will encourage them
to save and provide for their own financial future. We want to set them on a
steady path to continued education and provide incentives for them to crave
learning. There is a much stronger chance of creating lifelong learners when
they learn to enjoy it while still young.
I
believe that an investment in the education of our youth is a direct investment
into the future of our City. To this end, Plainfield Promise also has as an
objective the tertiary education of every single Plainfield High School
graduate who qualifies for college but who lacks the financial means. We
will pay for them to attend Union County College, because no child should be
denied an education because of economic challenges.
Plainfield,
these measures are by no means a solution or comprehensive strategy, but it
represents a vision for our community, which includes education, learning,
growing and building... by investing in the most precious commodity we have.
If
we are to grow and succeed, we must anticipate and plan ahead. We must educate
for growth, we must educate for learning, we must educate for survival, and we
must educate for success.
Mayor Adrian O. Mapp
City of Plainfield
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