tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685973980568122781.post5007987363312702459..comments2015-05-05T12:39:59.679-05:00Comments on Be Encouraged: “Waiting for Superman”Bishop Julius C. Trimblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05885416385120576839noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685973980568122781.post-71182669073109965902011-01-06T15:23:35.974-06:002011-01-06T15:23:35.974-06:00For the last six months we have been meeting with ...For the last six months we have been meeting with the administrators of our local middle school seeking to build a cooperative program which will enable the young people to succeed--working with the school, supporting the school, cooperating with the school. We have found the response from the teachers and administrators to be great--they welcome our help and know their students need the support of their community. Thank you Bishop for noting that many children don't have a choice or a chance because schools and teachers are not supported and valued as they should be. Every church can help--and the most help is needed where children are being left behind, mostly in our poverty areas--rural and urban.least&losthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07479289975673964287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685973980568122781.post-13889903525409301352011-01-05T08:49:28.164-06:002011-01-05T08:49:28.164-06:00Hillcrest Family Services, a mision of the IAUMC s...Hillcrest Family Services, a mision of the IAUMC since 1914, has been providing special education services to some of the most needy, vulnerable, abused, and impoverished students in Iowa since 1988. These services include a 130 student school in Dubuque with residents and students from all over Iowa, and satellite schools in Maquoketa and Monticello Iowa and Thomson Illinois. We support the efforts to improve educational outcomes and welcome our partners in the IAUMC to join us in prayer, ideas, and financial support in providing health and education ministries to the children of Iowa. For more information you can contact me at gary.gansemer@hillcrest-fs.orgAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07485095330692132815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685973980568122781.post-14565822006928963972011-01-04T19:22:29.574-06:002011-01-04T19:22:29.574-06:00I firmly believe that organizations such as the Un...I firmly believe that organizations such as the United Methodist Church have an exciting opportunity to respond to this crisis. What if my local UMC were to purchase a small elementary school in a failing neighborhood which my community school board intended to close for lack of funds and poor enrollment, and used that building, to provide a better education for that neighborhood's children than they could otherwise have? What if my local UMC partnered with struggling schools to provide volunteer mentors and classroom assistants, tutors and off campus computer labs, providing extra presence and participation in the lives of children? What if my local UMC pledged to provide licensed volunteers to administer GED courses in prisons, jails, and to teenage parents who missed out on high school graduation? What if my local UMC organized UMW and UMM circles to provide faith partners for sharing the burdens of peer pressure, economic scarcity and family chaos with school-aged children? What if my local UMC committed to fostering community action groups for students that focus their energies for change into creative, rather than destructive accomplishments? What if my local UMC decided to give a children's book to every new parent in it's local area, along with the pledge to help that child learn to read? <br /><br />I am ready and willing to try.Colleen McRobertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05918625567543161936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3685973980568122781.post-38811547846123613942011-01-04T16:10:53.342-06:002011-01-04T16:10:53.342-06:00I believe this is an important movie for people in...I believe this is an important movie for people in the church and beyond to see and to think about. Faith communities have long been on the cutting edge of educational change, whether during the Sunday School movement, in starting colleges or in pre-schools and before/after school programs. With all the talent within United Methodist Churches, it seems we again need to step up and ask ourselves how we can push innovation and help close the achievement gap. The problems are many, but the potential solutions are many as well and each of us can play a small role.Clinthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04140127814206462192noreply@blogger.com