Investing In The Future :: essays research papers fc

Investing in the Future     Welf be and school clear up are two of the most widely discussed issues inpolitics today. Many people are c all(prenominal)ing for reduction or elimination welfareprograms as well as programs that provide breakfast and lunch at schools. Theyargue that people should be able to provide for themselves and their baby birdrenwith minimal g everyplacenment assistance, and spending separate peoples tax dollars toassist the less fortunate only makes the problem worse. The main problem withthis line of thinking is that it forgets about the children involved. Childrenhave no control over what family they are born into. Many are born intosituations, such as single parent families, where the families have no way ofgiving their children a cheeseparing chance of developing into healthy, well adjustedadults. Something must be done to break this cycle, because besides helpingchildren to develop to their full potential, government assistance "s aves inn the costs incurred when intellectually and socially impaired childrengrow up to be intellectually and socially impaired adults"(Collins 59).     The need for some sort of assistance for many another(prenominal) children became obvious tome on a volunteer project I did in high school. The summer after my junior yearI took a shift to San Antonio with about twenty other students. We were dividedbetween two different projects, and I went to work in a summer day-care programin an poor area. The day-care was for children aged infant toeighteen, and on an average day about 175 children would come finished. Theyonly had two full time workers, and relied on volunteer groups that came throughabout once or twice a month to help them. They used to have more workers, butlacked the funding necessary to keep anyone on permanently. Many of thechildren were dropped off before the center opened at 800 in the morning, andthe meals they received at the center were t he only meals they got all day.Almost all the children showed a great need for attention and affection. It wasthis experience that made me realize that many children grow up without a realchance at a decent life.     Helping children early is crucial. Much research has been done recentlyon early childhood development, and there is much evidence that there arewindows of learning for the development of vision, feelings, language and otherthings. A window of learning means that there is a certain period of time inchild development when the brain "demands certain types of input in order tocreate or stabilize certain long-lasting structures"(Nash 53). This type of