Monday, September 27, 2010

The blame game...

Sheri Butters
Great Start Director
As a parent of young children as well as a professional within the Great Start community I often feel as though I have one foot in both camps.  I am that parent who is struggling to provide a great start for my children to ensure that they are ready for school and I am also that professional working with agencies and organizations to improve early childhood systems for all kids.  Most of the time that gives me a more informed perspective on the work that we are trying to accomplish.  Sometimes however it is very frustrating.

The frustration that I often feel stems from what I like to call the blame game.  I'm sure you've experienced it in one way or another in your own life as a parent or as an early childhood professional.  We sit down to talk about early childhood issues and how to effectively build and strengthen our community to ensure children are successful and, depending on who the audience is, it goes one of two ways.  If the room is full of agencies, organizations, legislators and other professionals the solution lies in increasing the skills and knowledge of parents.  It sounds something like this "well if parents would just... (fill in the blank)".  If the room is full of parents the solution lies in changing the way that schools, agencies, government and other organizations serve children and families. 

The answer is not to be found through pointing fingers or placing blame--in truth both sides are right.  Parents who have increased knowledge and parenting skills raise children who are more likely to be successful in school and throughout life.  And let's face it, a lot of systems that parents have to navigate (schools, health, human service, etc...) are not all that easy to figure out and sometimes they need a little updating to better serve the needs of young children and families.

At the end of the day, we all want the same thing--a safe, vibrant and growing community where young children grow to be successful, productive adults.  It's time we tear down the fences that surround both of these camps and start working together.  We've been playing the blame game for as long as I can remember and I have yet to see it solve any problems.  Let's stop pointing fingers at each other and focus on what's really important--our children.

Sheri Butters
Mother of three and director of Jackson's Great Start Collaborative