The economy has taken its toll on the youngest among us. A new survey conducted by Quality Care for Children, an Atlanta-based organization dedicated to nurturing and educating infants and young children, has documented a sharp decline in the number of child-care centers, a net loss of about 600, in the state during 2009.
But the results are even more dire when it comes to quality child-care centers.
In 2008, Georgia had 304 centers that had been accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. In 2009, that number had dropped to only 221 nationally accredited child-care centers.
To put that in context, there are an estimated 470,000 children in Georgia under the age of 6 who spend as much as 10 hours a day in the care of someone other than their parents. But only 26,843 of those children (5.7 percent) are in centers that have received national accreditation.
Read more: Georgia’s child care is growing more fragile - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
First, I was thinking, hmm..economy has hit hard, my wife reminded me later of the programs now across the state tied into schools that many think of as free but they aren't...someone is paying....after school programs now exist and before school programs and I wonder why Ms. Saporta left that out. Many have opted in these "free" programs...still that is not the issue.
Next, the accredited centers is interesting but Maria doesn't go into detail of what is required in this article. It was the next line that got me to stop eating my Buffalo Blue Zalad.
To put that in context, there are an estimated 470,000 children in Georgia under the age of 6 who spend as much as 10 hours a day in the care of someone other than their parents.
I quickly remembered Robert Lewis's teaching in Men's Fraternity (Lifeway- Quest for Authentic Manhood) of how America changed from being an agricultural nation and the father worked the fields and the children learned but were always around dad. Then dad got a job in the factory and he was gone and then of course today we are in the two income family where the children are left and then picked up later in the day.
I would like for you to think about the lack of male role models in the lives of the young boy's represented in that 470,000 number as they go thru child care and into school. Then think about the lack of men in elementary school settings. Even in the church, think about the number of men that aren't involved in young men's lives until they reach 3rd of 4th grade if they are lucky in the church.
I am amazed at how many dads in church think, "I have my own children and I am not working the nursery anytime!" and in our church you don't have to change diapers! and this is the family of God.....but, I digress.
Here is some things that hit me as I enjoyed the Texas Toast at Zaxbys, men are missing from this equation. Men don't realize it, and the issue of fatherlessness across America is making it the new norm.
I mentioned this to a co-worker this past week and she quickly agreed. She remarked that "My son was blessed to have a man teach him in 2nd grade and it made a huge difference in his grades and his focus."
You see God Created man and woman to share the load. Man was created first for a reason and when man is neglecting his role as leader things get out of order of how God created him.
E.M. Bounds said in the 1500's that "God is not looking for better methods, He is looking for better men."
The shape of these young men in Georgia is probably only being shaped if they are involved in sports at an early age and that can be a great thing if you get a coach motivated to teach the game or a coach motivated only to win and living out his past to show he can beat other kids at a game.
The church needs to be praying about how to help make a difference in this.
You and I need to think about how we can Create A Better Story around this for these young men. We need to pray for wisdom to make a difference in our neck of the woods.
Donald Miller made me think alot about this last year on his national speaking tour to start men to mentor younger men and make a difference.
Donald's dad was an absent dad when he grew up and only met him much later in life. (Detailed in A Thousand Miles in A Million Years) and now his newest book " Father Fiction.
http://www.strandbooks.com/app/www/p/profile/?isbn=1439169160
This is not an easy answer. I welcome your thoughts. We need to Create A Better Story for our young men today to be noble, authentic men who lead well. They learn this best from other men and if they aren't learning this, we will continue to lose the sight of true masculinity and think it comes only from playing sports.
I can remember graduating from college and getting involved in a youth soccer league as it started in the early 80's in my hometown in Alabama. No one except our league leader knew about soccer..he was from Charlotte and he showed us and taught us the game.
I had three teams over those years. One year it was 1st and 2nd graders. So much fun. Cloud of dust and a score! and then two years of 3rd and 4th graders. My younger brothers helped me with the teams and I even coached one team with 9 players instead of 11. All those young men are now grown and have families.
At that time, I didn't know and have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. My heart is more attune today to these type issues because I see the toll it is taking on men in America.
Years later I worked with two different high school bands on staff as a hobby. It was an honor with a friend's band to take vacation and teach band camp with the kids. I learned so much about them, some had decided already about college others haven't and that is fine...but it was nice to encourage both these young men and women to reach past the "status quo" of life and as John Maxwell says, "It is lonely on the extra mile."
Sports is an exciting thing, but competitive band is a bit better in one way. You see in sports many times you beat one team and are recognized as the winner. In band with one of my friend's bands we beat 26 other bands one Saturday in a competition. There is not many feelings like that. The kids were so pumped. You see the year before they had a different director and had finished last. We intentionally took them back to this contest to get over that hurdle and show them that they could win by working hard as a team across many judging panels....The memory of them pulling into that last block in front of me and kicking that last lick in always stays with me. Then the horns came down and they were yelling, "One more time Mr. Humphrey, one more time" They were screaming, beaming and I turned around and from there on the 50 looked up and they had the whole crowd standing......I knew we had impacted their lives and created a memory they would never forget and if they didn't win, they had won the crowd over.
But today, men are shirking from leading in many ways and it is creating what many call a "leadership vaccuum."
They are not honoring the covenant of marriage. They father children and walk away and not even pay child support. Think about is over 50% of marriages are ending in divorce. Many divorces have slowed down due to this economy simply due to the fact that neither had money to split. The kids are an afterthought. Self is more important.
Marriage is a covenant before God. God says that He hates divorce. You can see why because He knows all the pain that will trail it and sometimes for generations.
As a man we need to figure out how we can touch younger men's lives 1) work the nursery at church 2) become prayer warriors with ones as they get into 5th and 6th grade 3) serve in FBLA and Jr Achievement programs with schools 4) Coach teams in sports if you have that gift 5) consider a career change to teach in elementary and middle schools 5) work on programs on character etc with schools for programs with guest speakers etc. 6) work high school bands as I did or with FCA.
We have much as men to share with younger men about the right things about being a man, a good sport and a encourager.
Would you join me in this prayer focus that we as men start to work with younger men?
