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Sometimes children say it best. Unafraid to say what they mean directly and unapologetically, most children will tell you exactly what they are thinking if you ask them. And sometimes they are wise beyond their years.
Hampton Roads teacher and award-winning author, Lydia Netzer, found this out recently when she set out to get some answers from local children. After an exhaustive past few years of political rhetoric from politicians and pundits on “What will Fix America,” Netzer decided to ask local children a question: “What would you do to change the world in 2017?” The result of her efforts is a five-part podcast that will air online this week.
The answers she received ranged from helping the environment to helping the homeless and everything in between. “Use robots so children don’t need to make beds,” one youngster suggested. Perhaps most of us could see the value in that!
A native of Detroit, Netzer and her family live in Norfolk. Her novel Shine Shine Shine was named one of the 100 Notable Books of 2012 by the New York Times. She has written two more books, both published in 2014.
Series Episodes
Episode 1: Big Ideas
The journey begins. While they may be young, these little pitchers with big ears have big ideas on what would make the world better for everyone — and themselves.
Episode 2: It’s Not Easy Being Green
As we continue, the focus today is environmentalism. From cleaning up pet poop, to real practical solutions like community gardens, the kids may be ‘green’ in life experience — and maybe we should be too!
Episode 3: Human Rights
Just be nice! It seems so simple…but the kids of today believe Social Justice is important in being kind and moving forward. From racial divides to becoming foster parents, the golden rule prevails: Do unto others, as you’d have done to you!
Episode 4: Education
So, what would make education more entertaining, compelling, engaging, and fun? Why not ask the people early learning is trying to reach? The kids have some eye, ear, and heart-opening ideas on making learning FUN.
Episode 5: Why So Serious?
The kids are serious…about being happy, focusing on the good, being kind, and soaring with our strengths instead of focusing on what is so different. In doing so, perhaps the answer to all of our worries is: don’t!
