Professor James Heckman and America's Children

Look up, for your redemption drawth neigh
~Luke 21: 28

In the course of history, there comes a time when humanity is called to shift to a new level of consciousness, to reach a higher moral ground. A time when we have to shed our fear and give hope to each other. That time is now."
~Wangari Maathai
Lecture upon receiving the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize

After winning the Noble Peace Prize in Economics, Professor Heckman was determined to find out why the American workforce was falling behind other countries- thus jeopardizing the present and future economic security. He had a heart for, and always believed in America’s most precious resource…so that is what he set out to tap into-the people. What Professor Heckman found should forever change the way Americans looks at children, their potential, and power of the human heart. Here is what he found, and what many of us know to be true.
*Intelligence & social skills are developed at an early age-both are essential for success.
*Early investment produces the greatest returns in human capital
*Americas advantage will come from helping the disadvantaged
*Quality economic returns come from quality investments in early childhood programs
By giving young children the right start in life, many of the problems we have now will be prevented. Crime will drop, test scores will increase, teen pregnancy will diminish…Is the answer that simple? Professor Heckman cared enough about people to ask the right questions to find the right answers. Perhaps it’s time to find the right people to implement the right answers. We will all benefit from these people… but, how do you even identify them? They must have a large heart for people and are not easily put down…Defying gravity, perhaps,…because everything they do is ‘UP’ and never down. Hmmmm-mm, count me in….