Friday, November 5, 2010

Day 26: SEEDs of Change

The SEED Foundation is the dream of two men, Eric Adler and Rajiv Vinnakota.  Dramatically change the culture of the poor by education.  Not a new idea, for sure, but the means of accomplishing this dream is visionary.  Boarding schools.

""There's boarding schools for rich kids; why aren't there boarding schools for poor kids?" Vinnakota said. "The intense academic environment, the 24-hour aspect and constant access to role models. Why wouldn't all of those things be just as important for poor kids as it would be for rich kids?" 

"We believe very strongly that there is a group of kids for whom the answer is a 24-hour supportive educational environment. And they're not gonna have a shot if we don't give it to them," Adler added. 

It all starts on SEED's campus, a four-acre oasis, a safe zone where 340 kids can focus on school, free from distractions back at home.  SEED's goal is to prepare these children academically and socially for college and beyond. The students enter in sixth and seventh grade; 80 percent of them performing below grade level...That kind of dedication and personalized instruction has paid off: tenth graders at SEED score 40 percent higher in reading and 34 percent higher in math compared to other minority students in their area." 60 Minutes

The school is founded on the belief that each kid has high potential, and when placed in a supportive environment, they can succeed beyond what they can even imagine.  But not only that, they also work with them to develop life skills.  Teaching respect, study skills, values, social skills, and etiquette.  Suddenly these kids aren't just learning head knowledge, but instead how to be upstanding citizens, college-bound with the confidence to achieve great things.  

"In a single generation, families can not only produce a high school graduate, but a college graduate, and that changes a family forever. And that's why we do what we do."

Information for this blog post found at 60 Minutes and The SEED Foundation website.  



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