I don't know where or when it happened, but I see the results of it everywhere. I see it at the grocery store, I see it at the lunch restaurant, I see it when I call a company, I see it when in contract for services. Mediocrity. It's epidemic. It's everywhere. My parents weren't my friends. They were my parents. What does that mean? It means I was a little nervous around them. I didn't want to disappoint them. They weren't afraid to tell me I could do better. I never wanted to disrespect them. We were all human beings, but they occupied different, more important space than I did. Never were we equals. Never did my feelings or opinions trump theirs. They were in the business of running a family. They got to do it their way and it is the most important institution and unit that ever existed. Maybe that's where the problem is. Somewhere and at some time, the hierarchy of the family collapsed. Call it equality. Call it equity. Follow the money (taxes). I call it busted. I don't believe it's because people are busier, I don't believe it's because times are different. People are more interested in a like or a thumbs up than a guiding hand and I don't know why. Media? Politics? Power? Perhaps all three but righting the ship will not be easy and I'm afraid it will get worse before it gets better. Most things that are worth fighting for never are.
As much as I tend to agree, I think it’s important to separate out the spheres of influence. I know as a teacher that I can’t change the home experience of the kids in front of me, or the culture around me. All I can do—and all that schools in general can do—is to take what they are given and do the best they can to change the situation for the better. That’s why I try to focus more on what the schools can do for the kids rather than what the parents and broader culture can do. Otherwise, we’d be beating our spoons on our high chairs about these issues for the rest of our lives. Perhaps we’re destined to do that anyway.
I don't know where or when it happened, but I see the results of it everywhere. I see it at the grocery store, I see it at the lunch restaurant, I see it when I call a company, I see it when in contract for services. Mediocrity. It's epidemic. It's everywhere. My parents weren't my friends. They were my parents. What does that mean? It means I was a little nervous around them. I didn't want to disappoint them. They weren't afraid to tell me I could do better. I never wanted to disrespect them. We were all human beings, but they occupied different, more important space than I did. Never were we equals. Never did my feelings or opinions trump theirs. They were in the business of running a family. They got to do it their way and it is the most important institution and unit that ever existed. Maybe that's where the problem is. Somewhere and at some time, the hierarchy of the family collapsed. Call it equality. Call it equity. Follow the money (taxes). I call it busted. I don't believe it's because people are busier, I don't believe it's because times are different. People are more interested in a like or a thumbs up than a guiding hand and I don't know why. Media? Politics? Power? Perhaps all three but righting the ship will not be easy and I'm afraid it will get worse before it gets better. Most things that are worth fighting for never are.
As much as I tend to agree, I think it’s important to separate out the spheres of influence. I know as a teacher that I can’t change the home experience of the kids in front of me, or the culture around me. All I can do—and all that schools in general can do—is to take what they are given and do the best they can to change the situation for the better. That’s why I try to focus more on what the schools can do for the kids rather than what the parents and broader culture can do. Otherwise, we’d be beating our spoons on our high chairs about these issues for the rest of our lives. Perhaps we’re destined to do that anyway.
I think my spoon is worn out :)