Malala Yousafzai And The Girls Of Pakistan

Malala Yousafzai And The Girls Of Pakistan

YA nonfiction
In Maine school districts are in budget season. Administrators
and school committees and boards work together to craft fiscal plans
that will meet students' needs while not seeming excessive to
taxpayers. As we wrestle over line items, we run the risk of not
realizing that in relation to much of the world we are truly
fortunate. Our children (both boys and girls) are guaranteed a free
and appropriate public education. We should all take a few minutes to
read David Aretha's Malala Yousafzai And The Girls Of Pakistan.
October 9, 2012 in Pakistan a man flagged down a bus containing
students and teachers. He asked which of the young people was
Malala. When he ascertained who she was he shot her in the head three
times. Malala had known she was in danger. The Taliban had sent her
death threats.
Malala was then only fifteen years old. Why would a young teen
make their assassination list? Even at that age she had spoken out
strongly for girls' rights to education.
Malala was born into a land, Pakistan, with a literacy rate of
69% for males and 40% for females. Family poverty, the need for their
help, and hunger kept a lot of children out of school.
Fundamentalist religious interpretations forbid educating girls,
particularly after the Taliban entered Pakistan follow America's
invasion of Afghanistan.
Facing such dire circumstances, most people would have given
up. Malala became even more resolute in her demand for education for
children. She can provide a fine inspiration for young adult readers...
...and maybe even for not so young school committee members.
On a personal note, choir has recently been a really a beautiful
experience at Universal Fellowship. We had one Sunday with only five
of us--no guys. The congregation said we sounded like angels. Then
last Sunday we did a beautiful and complicated piece by Bach. When we
started rehearsing it felt like we were wrestling with the music and
Bach was losing. But when we performed it was beauty like chills and
fever at the same time. I wrote a poem about it when I was supposed
to be listening to Pastor Lorna preach.
A great big shout out goes out to my Orono Methodist and Universal
Felliwship choir families who make my soul soar.
Jules Hathaway



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