I’ve been inspired to write this diary because my husband — a diehard Hillary supporter — was born, raised and lived in Little Rock, Arkansas, right through Bill Clinton’s run for president.
My husband also worked as a teacher in an Arkansas public school for a few years while Hillary Clinton was fighting to raise education standards in the state. He was impressed by her work — even going up against the teacher’s union to enact a Basic-Skills Test for teachers — and, like many others in Arkansas, he credits her with reforming education in his home state.
This Huffpo article linked below discusses Hillary’s work in Arkansas. Here are some quotes (the entire article is worth a read):
… Hillary Rodham’s path to improving education in Arkansas began in 1974 when she moved to Fayetteville and became just the second female faculty member at the University of Arkansas Law School.
… In 1977, Hillary co-founded and drew up the articles of incorporation for the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families — a group that for nearly four decades since has fought for expanded opportunities in early education, juvenile justice reform, increases in state funding for child health care and other major initiatives.
“She was a very forceful advocate to say the least,” recalled Jim Miles, who worked with her to create the group and develop its mission. “I think Arkansas Advocates is one of the nation’s premier child advocacy organization. They have tremendous peer respect.”
After Bill Clinton was sworn in as governor for the first time in 1979, he appointed his wife to be the chairwoman of Arkansas’ Rural Health Advisory Committee — a group that worked to expand health care access within the state’s large rural population.
Around the same time, Hillary became a board member of the Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where she helped establish the state’s first neonatal nursery while she was pregnant with Chelsea. …
… after reading about it during a trip to Florida, Hillary brought to Arkansas a program called Home Instruction for Parents for Preschool Youngsters, or HIPPY, which trains parents of at-risk children in early education methods.
... in 1982, Bill Clinton named his wife as chair of the Arkansas Educational Standards Committee, an entity with the daunting task of reforming the state’s public education system, which was ranked at or near the very bottom of all 50 states in just about every measure.
To get a sense of how dire the situation had become, consider that a majority of Arkansas’ 365 school districts at the time offered no art or chemistry classes, and almost half had no foreign language program to speak of. And teacher training in some districts was fourth-rate….
Hillary spent months traveling the state to sell her proposals for reform — which included boosting course offerings, reducing class sizes and implementing testing requirements for both students and teachers — while soliciting ideas from parents and teachers.
In the end, the administration tied the package to an unpopular initiative to boost the state sales tax by 1 percentage point.
Though she faced heated pushback from the teachers’ union and a related group, Hillary largely won over lawmakers in the end.
Political operatives in the state still laugh about the thunderstruck reaction that Rep. Lloyd George, a colorful state representative with a syrupy drawl, had to her presentation: “I think we’ve elected the wrong Clinton!” www.huffingtonpost.com/..
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In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed her to the board of the Legal Services Corporation, the same year she helped to found Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/...
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From wiki — just a few of Awards Hillary Clinton has earned over the years:
1997: Clinton was given the Lincoln Medal from the Ford's Theatre Society, presented annually to "individuals who, through their body of work, accomplishments or personal attributes, exemplify the lasting legacy, and mettle of character embodied by" Abraham Lincoln.
1994: Clinton received the Living Legacy Award from the Women's International Center, in recognition of "her vast contributions in so many fields, especially honoring her work for women and children."
1995, the New York University Annual Survey of American Law dedicated its 52nd volume to Clinton. Each spring since 1942 the NYU Annual Survey has dedicated a volume to a preeminent attorney. On hand to honor Clinton were Former Secretary of the Treasury and United States Senator Lloyd M. Bentsen, Nobel Peace Laureate Elie Wiesel, Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, United States Secretary of the Treasury Robert Rubin, and United States Senator Edward M. Kennedy.[8]
1997: Clinton was given the Lincoln Medal from the Ford's Theatre Society, presented annually to "individuals who, through their body of work, accomplishments or personal attributes, exemplify the lasting legacy, and mettle of character embodied by" Abraham Lincoln.
1999, Clinton was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Children of Chernobyl Relief Fund for her support of that Ukrainian organization's efforts regarding legacy effects of the Chernobyl accident.
2005: Clinton was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.
2005, Clinton was given the American Medical Women's Association's President’s Vision & Voice Award, for being an advocate for women's health and related issues.
2009, Clinton received the Global Trailblazer award from Vital Voices Global Partnership, for "her passionate commitment to promoting women's rights and securing justice for all people around the world."
2010, Secretary Clinton was given the George McGovern Leadership Award by the World Food Programme, for "her commitment and visionary approach to ending global hunger."
2012: In Belfast, Clinton was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by The Worldwide Ireland Funds, in recognition of her efforts for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland during her time as First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State.
2014: Clinton received a Ripple of Hope Award from the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights.
2015: Clinton accepted the "We Are Emily" award from Emily's List.
2015, Clinton received the first Barbara Jordan Public-Private Leadership Award, named in honor of Congresswoman Barbara Jordan and given to "a deserving woman anywhere in the world who has made the highest achievement during the preceding year or years in any honorable field of human endeavor in the public or private sector."
Full list of awards: en.wikipedia.org/...