Sometimes it feels like I grew up and began my career in the schools in a golden age of education. That was in 1973. Our foremost concern was how to educate children of all abilities and to help them prepare for the world. Attention was turning to students with special needs. New programs were being developed. Laws and regulations were put in place to attempt to assure an appropriate education for all students. Schools were continuing to be integrated. There was respect for and an understanding of science and its methods.
It was far from perfect, of course. Then (as now) those in positions of power were not always competent or qualified to manage better-educated staff. Ways could be found to work around regulations for expedience. Much was yet to be discovered about autism and other neurobiological differences. The county in which I worked in Maryland had two parent organizations that were against having counselors in the schools, afraid they would undermine the family. But education was still our primary concern. (Perhaps I was more naïve then, too.)
We did not have to worry so much about security, the proliferation of weapons of death, adverse impacts of social media, the politicization of education to promote archaic ideologies, the machinations of wealthy special interests trying to create hordes of ignorant citizens through pseudo-science and denying the realities of genuine science. Now, however, nothing seems too extreme in attempts by special interests to undo expectations of equality, realities of science, and needs for emotional intelligence. We see outright schemes for privatization and for-profit institutions. The unthinkable and unreasonable have been put into platforms of major political parties where everything is to be made a tool of the moneyed class and 18th century ideologies.
I’m glad to not be returning to the new environment of education, but I have the utmost respect and admiration for the educators who now wrestle with larger and more socially-complex issues than I had to face in those earlier years.
To the teachers and support staff, I salute you. Never forget the spark that made you want to make a positive difference in the lives of children. Your work is important.
Thank you Karl. I love how you break down all the influences we now have to deal with in education. You are the most thoughtful talented man. I have to go check on my pepper spray hidden under the desk and to make sure that our hidey hole is ready for emergency situations. I also have to make some ID Badges for new students. It continues to amaze me that the black students have state issued IDs in which I can only see there eyes and teeth. I am demoralized by this and I wonder how they feel?
I have very high expectations for the Generation YZ and millinials. They are paying attention and they aren’t interested in making anything “great or otherwise – Again” . It’s a new reality for them and they are and will be taking charge! I support them .