“When [the War on Poverty] started no one had ever dreamed of anything like Head Start. it was only when I found that 50% of all of the poor in the USA were fifteen years of age or younger that I decided that we had to have a specific program dedicated to teh younger of that age group ... The program was such a success that in August of 1965 President Johnson announced that Head Start’s summer programs would be extended to a full-year programs. Head Start has been part of American life ever since.”
Our Quote of the Week is in honor of Head Start’s 61st birthday, which we marked on Monday, May 18.
This week, we’ve been reflecting on the success and enduring legacy of Head Start, the War on Poverty’s early childhood education program for children facing difficult economic circumstances. The quote we’ve chosen is from Sargent Shriver’s Speech at the 35th Anniversary of Head Start.
Following his call to wage “an unconditional war on poverty” in the 1964 State of the Union Address, President Lyndon Johnson appointed Sargent Shriver to lead the anti-poverty effort. Working as the director of the newly-created Office of Economic Opportunity, Shriver took a dynamic and integrated approach to eradicating poverty, designing a set of support and training programs for people in various stages of life who were struggling with economic instability. As the quote indicates, the original plan for the War on Poverty did not include Head Start, but after seeing the great need, it became clear that providing education for young children would be crucial for tackling poverty.
With its holistic approach, Head Start also includes health care and social components, and importantly, support and employment opportunities for parents and caregivers, all of which vary based on the needs in individual communities. Head Start’s comprehensive, multi-generational approach has supported over 40 million families since its inception and has continued to be popular nationwide.
To learn more about Head Start, visit the National Head Start Association‘s website.
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