Society’s Children: Our Future, Whose Responsibility?

As Nelson Mandela said, “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” Yet America’s children are suffering. Mental health issues among young people are at an all-time high, and many continue to suffer the ill effects of poverty, homelessness, and injustices often seen in such systems as foster and residential care. Even after decades of progress, our society still struggles daily with the social challenges of racism, sexism, ableism, and other forms of bigotry and bullying that affect the growth, education, and well-being of our children. Schools have taken on additional responsibilities for not only the child’s intellectual requirements but also food security, physical and mental health, pre-professional development, and more. Whose voices will advocate for society’s youth? How can a society collaborate to empower its families and schools and take responsibility for the multifaceted wellness of the next generation? In what ways can systemic change be addressed in our local, state, and federal guidelines and policies?

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