POUGHKEEPSIE- First Lady Dr. Jill Biden visited the Day One Learning Center in the City of Poughkeepsie during her stop on the Mid-Hudson region Friday, and she reminded everyone the importance of early childhood education.
After her arrival at the learning center, which is part of the Reformed Church of Poughkeepsie, Dr. Biden toured classroom, speaking to teachers, children and administrators. She then went downstairs and spoke to a large crowd in the parishioners’ hall.
“When children are born, we look into their eyes and we see every possibility, don’t we, limitless bounds, endless horizons,” said Biden. “And as a grandmother and as a mother, I know that feeling well. You feel like, hey, our kids can do anything – because they can. Children are the smartest investment we can make in the nation’s future. When they grow up, they can cure cancer, solve the climate crisis, to launch the next revolutionary company, and to keep us out of future wars. And we know the most important time in a child’s development is within the first few years of their life.”
The learning center, which helps families with children before they enter
elementary school, has apprenticeship programs for those seeking to pursue a
career in early childhood education.
That fills a need in the community at a time when there are challenges affording childcare and groceries while to trying to advance one’s life. And as a community college writing teacher, Biden said she has witnessed these challenges from one of the students.
“Her childcare had fallen through, but she couldn’t afford to miss my class, so she set up her son with a box of crayons and some paper in the corner of the room, and I tried to give her a smile when I saw her looking at him nervously, praying that he’d make it through the class,” said Biden. “That same scene plays out every day across our country. Maybe your work or your school won’t let you bring your child in at all, so you had to lose pay or miss a class. You have seen that challenge in Poughkeepsie, too.”
Dr. Biden ended her comments with assurances that President Joe Biden’s
administration understands these challenges and is working hard to make it easier
for parents with small children.
“When our children are set on a lifelong path of learning, they can succeed in school and in their careers,” said Biden. “So, thank you for making that possible in this community, and know that you will always have a committed partner in Joe and in his administration.”
