Understanding that the human infant will not even stand on two legs and learn a language without being taught by other humans, members of a village form an extended family of teachers who raise not only children, but everyone in the village, in the ways of the culture, from the cradle to the grave. It will take all of the ancestors' wisdom, mastery and respect, and all of our 21st Century tools and expertise, for us to authentically improve the conditions of all of our young people today. It will take all of it, and we must never forget that we do have all of it. We must decide to use it, together, systematically, to build cyber age villages that will protect, nurture and educate each and every one of our children. The power of the inspiration that will spring from our decision is incalculable.
Protection is fundamental.
If our children s homes, schools, neighborhoods and social venues are not safe, all of their intellectual, physical and emotional energies must go to the primal priority of self preservation. A village protects its children. Nurture is the loving, attentive process by which families and cultures cultivate the human infant into a productive and talented member of their group. Instruments of nurture include the spiritual lessons, governance structures and informal customs and mores of the group. Nurture is active, and should be affirmative, clearly focused and fulfilling.