The Newark Leadership Education Roundtable developed into an enlightening, engaging discussion resulting in a different conversation about teaching and learning. Panelists gave examples of circumstances from their own lives and what they believe were the basics that they were taught as child. Many came from impoverished circumstances, in many instances much more dire from an economic point of view than today and while suffering under the constraints of racial prejudice and discrimination, but the need to better themselves through education was consistently stressed, sometimes by their uneducated parents, teachers and community members. Certainly the Church played a much more important role in the lives of young people.


An assessment of the dialogue would indicate that the quality of the home life, cultural orientation and the degree of family and community prides greatly impacts a child’s self esteem and the desire and ability to learn. The future of education in our community depends on the coming together of those in charge—family, educators, community leaders to spend not only the money, but the time, talent and hard work it takes to grow a child into a responsible, productive citizen.