Smarties or Dum Dums?

A co-worker was sharing her ideas on how to encourage children to learn by creating t-shirts with a slogan "Are you a Smartie or a Dum Dum?" The t-shirts were printed with images of the candy. Is it really that simple? Most children are not given the opportunity to express their true interests with the current curriculum. Our children tend to excel once they are given the opportunity to do what it is they love.

Case and point, I was impressed with an interview Barbara Walters conducted with our former, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colin Powell in September 2004 on The View.

Colin Powell, as a young kid grew up in the Bronx, son of an immigrant family that came from Jamaica with nothing but their hopes and dreams. His friends didn't think he would get a job in anything. They all thought he was so directionless. He was a poor student even in college, but while attending college at age 17 or thereabouts, still without direction and not going anywhere particularly. He saw ROTC cadets walking around the campus, which peaked his interest, so he joined ROTC. The military experience gave him a sense of purpose and a group to be with, and that became his life's work, being a professional soldier.

Mr. Powell indicated, "the truth is, we don't know where we're going to end up. We all know that's not the way life is. You just move ahead, prepare yourself, work hard, believe in yourself, believe in this wonderful country, believe that you can do anything that you put your heart to and your mind to, and you're willing to work for."

Also, Mr. Powell emphasized, "those of us who have been successful have an obligation, a responsibility to help these kids, to mentor them, to give them safe places in which to grow up and to find themselves. We need to give them a healthy start in life. We have to give them the skills they need to be successful in a demanding world. Lastly, we need to give them is a sense of service, to teach them that early in life, they have to serve others, and build it into them so that when they become adults, in addition to being successful adults, they're also serving adults and giving back.”

I have two questions for my co-worker; number one, is a straight “A” student destined for greatness?, and number two, is a poor student destined for failure? Every child has a passion or dream, it’s our responsibility to help them determine their interests and to support them 100%. Parents kill more dreams than anybody. -- Spike Lee  Don't be a dream killer!