Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm Pledges a Commitment to Early
Childhood Programs Despite Budget Crisis
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Bridges4Kids Exclusive by Deborah Canja
January 23, 2003
Greeted by a standing ovation, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm
addressed a crowd of 1,200 early childhood educators, providers, and
parents at the 2003 Tenth Annual Early Childhood Collaborative Conference
sponsored by the Michigan Department of Education.
“I am a mom,” she told the group. “I know how critical it is to send these
precious gifts to school ready to succeed. I’ve seen the research on early
brain development. I get it.”
“How wonderful it is,” said State Board of Education President Kathleen
Straus as she introduced the Governor and described the State Board’s
early childhood priorities, “to have a Governor who wants to work with
us.”
“I look forward to partnering with the Department of Education,” the
Governor responded. “We DO share the same goals and since there is no “i”
in team, I want to work together to put wings to our prayers for
successful early childhood programs for our children.”
As the Governor surveyed the room she praised the dedication of the
participants.
“I want you to know how much I deeply respect the work you do. You are
where the rubber meets the road. You are raising the future presidents,
lawyers, doctors, curers of cancer...”
“and Governors!” someone from the crowd called out to applause.
“I know you didn’t get into this for the money,” she continued. “If you
had, you would have taken a different job. You are doing this because you
are changing the world every day and for that you are to be honored.”
“In Japan,” she explained, “the term of honor for a teacher is ‘sensei’.
Even the Emperor bows before the sensei. That is the position of respect I
want for you. It is honorable, it is noble, it is selfless what you do for
these kids.”
While the Governor again stated her commitment to early childhood
programs, she spoke frankly of the challenges posed by the budget crisis
facing the State. “You have heard about the budget problems,” she said.
“Whatever you’ve heard, it’s even worse.”
“We are facing the worst budget crisis since World War II. Even if I
eliminated the budget for 9 of 18 state departments, and for all of the
Executive Office, the Legislature, and the Supreme Court, it still would
not be enough. We are facing a 1.8 billion dollar hole. There is no
painless way out of it. Government will have to tighten its belt. There is
no will for tax increases.”
“But,” she said, “despite how bad it is, we will make early childhood
programs a key priority in this administration. We will look to our
philanthropic community to help us fund pilot projects. Partnership is
going to be the word of the day. Collaboration is going to be the word of
the day.”
She closed with a quote from the book Prince of Tides:
“Tom, the main character,” she explained, “is responding to his family who
have questioned why he choose to sell himself short by becoming a teacher.
He said to them, ‘There is no word in the language that I revere more than
teacher – none…I have honored myself and the entire family of man by
becoming a teacher.’”
“Thank you,” she told the crowd, “for the work that you do. Your
fingerprints will remain on their souls long after they leave your
classroom.”
