Nancy McKendrick, mom of a 16-year-old high school student in Utah, said her daughter was working on an apprenticeship dossier to compensate for a history class in the United States when she was surprised by a stint on the ‘slavery.

McKendrick, from southern Jordan, said it was Tuesday that his daughter showed him the course on the American Civil War, with sections highlighted that slaves “were generally treated kindly” and “many had conditions of reasonable life and hours of service “.

“I was like it was horrible. I sent it to my siblings and all of my sisters and one of them had contact with Black Lives Matter here, ”McKendrick told McClatchy News.

The learning package was Northridge Learning Center, who called the text “blatant and unacceptable” and withdrew it from the program.

Northridge, which is based in Utah, provides “accredited resources for non-traditional students seeking course credit leading to a high school diploma,” according to its website.

“The offending course, including this module, was immediately removed from our curriculum and we are ensuring that our new history texts are accurate and not ‘whitewashed’. Further, we sincerely apologize for not acknowledging it ourselves, and for any emotional offense or harm it may have caused, ”according to a statement on the Northridge website.

Emma houston, special assistant to the vice president of equity, diversity and inclusion at the University of Utah, told the Salt Lake Tribune that she was “beyond words” that anyone would describe slavery as “nice”.

“The point is, Africans were brought to this country in shackles and shackles and forced to do manual labor,” Houston said.

The historical record also states: “Many slaves worked so closely with their masters that they were treated like family,” adding that “the slaves were considered property, so it was not in the best interest of a slave owner to treat a slave badly ”.

McKendrick said she was delighted that Northridge was taking action to correct the problem.

“I was glad they took care of it and said they would do something about it,” McKendrick said. “… Looks like they’re really trying to change that now.”

DYSART – Little Knights Learning Centerr (Little Knights) announced at his open house on Wednesday that he had raised nearly $ 850,000 from his $ 1.4 million “Kids Today, Tomorrow’s Dysart” fundraising campaign for its new daycare located on the Dysart-Geneseo primary school campus. Through a lease with the Union Community School District, the previous daycare was located in the elementary school and was too large for its space.

Iowa leads the country with 75% of parents of children under 6 working outside the home. These parents are struggling to find safe, accessible and affordable child care, as 42% of child care businesses closed in Iowa in the five years before the pandemic began. According to the Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral, 28% of communities in Iowa do not have daycares.

“With a desert of child care centers in rural Iowa communities, the new Little Knights Learning Center will provide a continuum of education for our children to learn with their hometown friends from Kindergarten to Grade 12. year, ”said Tim Glenn, Mayor of the Town of Dysart. . “On behalf of the Town of Dysart, we are happy to have supported this project from the start, having recognized this need in our community.

The new building will reduce the waitlist for child care by increasing the capacity of Little Knights to 85 children. It will include a full kitchen, five classrooms, a playground, a recreation center and other resources.

Glenn also stressed that the project was a catalyst for economic development in this rural community and said the need to keep young families around.

“Investing in our smaller residents pays big dividends later,” said Glenn. “The future of our small town depends on the families who live here. Making a lasting commitment to having a quality daycare center in the city improves the quality of life of our citizens. This paves the way for Dysart to become a place to grow, attract new businesses and retain young families.

Mayor Glenn invited Eric Taylor, campaign volunteer and member of the Farmers Coop Telephone Company (FCTC) board of directors, to take the podium to explain why he and the FCTC are supporting the fundraising campaign.

“Little Knights not only promotes local economic development, but also helps keep young families, who live in cities and on farms, in our community,” Taylor said. “Many cities of similar size in Iowa are losing population to larger cities. The daycare supports registrations in our public schools to keep our elementary and middle school in town. Children are the future of Dysart. Keeping kids in Dysart now will make Dysart grow later. Please join me in investing in the children of today and making a commitment to the success of the Dysart of tomorrow.

Taylor expressed his respect and confidence in the volunteer board of directors of the nonprofit Little Nights, as well as the executive director and the 15 staff members who care for children aged 6 weeks to 12 years old.

“The Little Knights Learning Center is a great organization and I encourage everyone to join me in making a donation,” Taylor said. “It’s important that we recognize the hard work that has gone into raising funds for this important project and the campaign leadership team that brings us closer to the goal. “

Taylor introduced Taylor Gingrich, one of four campaign chairs and parent of three who attend the Little Knights Learning Center.

“My family and our family business are directly affected by having a reliable and affordable child care option here at Dysart,” said Gingrich. “Without it, the employees, as well as ourselves, would need to leave town to fill this need, which would impact local successes within Dysart. This is why Sarah and I are so passionate about this project and we volunteered to chair the fundraiser. “

Gingrich thanked the board and staff of the Little Knights who were 100% involved in the campaign. He called the volunteers and kids at the daycare at the front of the room to return large numbers of card stock revealing the amount raised to date.

“Special thanks to our campaign leadership team, board of directors, staff and generous donors, including our main donor Farmers Coop Telephone Company, who all gave during the quiet phase of the campaign,” Gingrich said. “We wouldn’t have gotten this far without your help. Thank you.”

Gingrich then called on other businesses and community members to step up and donate to help Little Knights reach their campaign goal.

“The Little Knights Learning Center is a place for all families,” said Gingrich. “It offers a continuum of education for the children of our community and a better quality of life for our residents. It stimulates economic development and prevents our city from becoming the next desert of nurseries. We hope you are delighted with the incredible progress that has been made in our fundraising efforts. Please join us… and make your donation today.

Donations can be made in cash or in securities. Matching donations from an employer can double or even triple the donation. Pledges are encouraged and can be extended for up to three years. Online donations can be made at www.dysartschildren.comr.

Board members, staff and administrators of School District 63 in Eastern Maine will meet from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 1 to welcome District 63 families, local leaders and the community in all at a special open house celebrating the new 40,000 square foot District Preschool Learning Center at 10000 Dee Road in Des Plaines.

Members of the public are welcome to drop by the ELC, enjoy refreshments (donated in part by Dunkin ‘Donuts) outside under the marquee, and tour the building (masks required inside). District and school leaders will be on hand to greet guests and answer questions.

The center – which is home to the district’s First Steps Kindergarten – actually opened in August 2020, but a ribbon cut was not considered due to the pandemic. As of January 2021, some of the youngest students in District 63 attended the school in person, while many others learned remotely.

This year, the building opened on August 16 to over 225 preschoolers living in Des Plaines, Glenview, Niles, Morton Grove and Park Ridge.

Highlights of the project include:

• 40,000 square feet of new space – use of natural materials throughout.

• STEM, nutrition and active play learning centers.

• Large playground and a separate sensory play area.

• Geothermal heating and cooling.

• The ground pattern curves throughout the building, echoing the nearby Plains River.

• Independent learning studio.

• Library / performance space.

• Gymnasium for gross motor skills.

The new ELC was recently recognized by American School & University Magazine’s Educational Interior Showcase Awards. Jury of a jury of experts, the program rewards leading educational architectural projects. The center received a Bronze Mention in the Outstanding Design of Preschool / Early Childhood Education category.

As one juror noted, “Each of the shared ‘learning centers’ has a clear purpose and is carefully designed to fulfill that function. Incorporation of elements of biophilia [which connect occupants to the natural environment], including natural lighting and murals, creates a vibrant yet calm environment. “

The ELC is the final piece in the District 63 master plan, which also included the expansion to provide full-time kindergarten, moving all sixth graders into what is now Gemini Middle School, 104,970 square feet. new and improved space at Gemini; and the launch of a new Family Resource Center.

The First Steps Early Learning Center is one of seven schools in East Maine School District 63 that provides a rich learning environment and a multicultural perspective to over 3,500 students.

Committed to teaching excellence that provides all students with the specific opportunities they need to succeed and thrive, its five elementary schools, college, preschool, expanded learning program and family resource center promote the academic, social, emotional and behavioral growth of each student and success.

To learn more, visit www.emsd63.org. Event parking is available on the school grounds.

RSVPs are encouraged by sending an email to [email protected]

Brake, a second generation poultry farmer whose father raised chickens for Perdue for almost 30 years, has been raising chickens for Perdue since 1995 and today owns a total of eight Perdue barns. Her four daughters are each involved in the family business, the eldest of which is studying agriculture at NC State University. Building on their passion for poultry farming, the family built and opened an educational center in one of their henhouses which includes a large observation room where guests and students can observe and learn about the birds undisturbed. in their environment.

Brakes are the third family of Perdue farms to open a poultry learning center on their farm and were inspired to build their own after discovering similar projects from other Perdue farmers at the company’s annual animal care summit in 2019.

“After talking with other farmers who had opened learning centers on their farms, it opened my eyes to a lot of things. I realized the importance of sharing who we are as farmers and how we take care of our animals because there is a lot of misinformation out there, ”said Steven Brake, poultry farmer at Perdue Farms. “We love what we do and want to help educate adults and children about where their food comes from. It is one thing to tell people what we are doing; it is more meaningful if we can let them see it for themselves. “

Brake focused on educating his farm’s learning center for students of all ages. He and the farm’s live production manager, Crystal, are working together to organize guided tours of local elementary, high school and high school classrooms, as well as agriculture, animal science and bioengineering students from several surrounding colleges and universities, including North Carolina State University, Mount Olivier University, and Edgecombe Community College. Brake’s sister, Vickie, who is a teacher, has helped create unique teaching standards that work in harmony with visiting so teachers can create relevant programs and tests for their classes.

“These field trips are a great way to get kids out of the classroom and give us the opportunity to show them what poultry farming is all about. This is our goal: we want to educate. Teachers can download educational standards for their programs, in the classroom, and even take tests after the farm tour, ”said Brake. “Agriculture is an applied science with many complexities, so we demonstrate how various concepts work on our farm, such as heat transfer as part of our management of climate control in poultry houses. “

“Several years ago at Perdue we charted a new course for our business in a number of key areas, particularly for the animals in our care and the family farmers who raise these animals. Part of this plan prioritizes transparency with all our stakeholders, inviting monitoring, teaching the next generation and reporting regularly on our progress, ”said Marc McKay, President, Perdue Poultry and Premium Meats. “This educational center which Steven Brake and his team have built that is perfectly aligned with Perdue’s plan for the future; they run a farm that shows the best of what it means to take care of animals, and which is specially designed to foster discussion and openly show the progress we are all making. “

The materials and labor to build Brake’s new learning center were donated by Tommy herring, president of Hog Slat, Inc., a family-owned manufacturer and supplier of breeding equipment.

Students and community members interested in learning more or arranging a visit can find additional information here.

About Perdue Farms:
We are a fourth generation American family owned food and agriculture company. Through our belief in responsible food and agriculture, we empower consumers, customers and farmers with reliable choices in products and services.

The premium protein portfolio within our Perdue Foods business, including our flagship product LOST® Mark, Niman Ranch®, Panorama® organic pasture meats, Coleman Natural®, and Yum®, as well as our brands for pets, Spot® farms and Full Moon®, is available through a variety of channels including retail, foodservice, club stores, and our direct-to-consumer website, PerdueFarms.com.

Lost AgriBusiness is an international agricultural products and services company.

Today, in the second century of our business, our path to the future is to improve, not just to grow. We never use drugs to stimulate growth in poultry and livestock farming, and we actively advance our animal welfare programs. Our brands are leaders in antibiotic-free chicken, turkey, pork, beef and lamb, as well as USDA certified organic chicken and beef. Learn more about Company.PerdueFarms.com.

SOURCE Lost Farms

SAYRE, Pa. (WETM) – On July 28, Guthrie opened his new “Foundations Early Learning Center” in Sayre.

According to Guthrie, the daycare will offer “not only an exceptional early childhood experience, but also a basis for success that will accompany children through kindergarten to grade 12”.

Guthrie and state officials were on hand to illustrate how this new facility will provide another option for child care professionals and parents.

Frank Pinkosky, executive director of community projects at the Foundations Early Learning Center, said he hopes this center will raise the bar for early childhood education in the community. The center will mainly focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) education.

“The data proves that children who are ahead of the curve, who do well in early childhood education, are likely to graduate from high school, college and post-graduate school, and take on essential roles in the community, ”said Pinkosky. .

For Pinkosky, he wants those who grow up here to come back and strengthen the local community.

“I mentioned that this project is a cornerstone project for what we call a Sayre revitalization initiative,” Pinkosky said. “It’s really becoming a vibrant community and having all the resources in place where families want to live, have careers, socialize, play and have fun in this area. So we think the launch of this early childhood learning center is a cornerstone for that.

Gregg Tweedy, a parent who recently moved to Sayre from the Syracuse area, said these are the people who make a great child care and health care facility. He referred to the Golisano Northern State Children’s Hospital and how Guthrie has similarities in their operation.

“It was the doctors who made this place [Golisano] popular, ”Tweedy said. “They went to school there and learned to love the community. They stayed. They weren’t recruited from the big hospitals in the big cities because they felt comfortable. I think the roadmap that Sayre and Guthrie are making is exactly the right fit in making this place as special as I think it can be.