EDU Trending: A Boy and an Elephant Commune
In August 2021, the second issue of Unpacking Education led with an article entitled “Listening is the key to understanding.” In three short years, our country has gone from urgent and heated, but still civil, verbal disagreement to rancorous screaming, vicious hostility, threats, and sometimes physical attacks. In today’s environment, I think it is worth revisiting the main points of that seemingly long-ago article and its hopeful and achievable vision:
When we listen, we begin to understand not only where we are different but how we are the same. Sameness may be about culture, race, religion, or personal experience. Or it may simply be a shared love of soccer, spicy foods, robotics, or graphic novels. The hope is that through common ground we can come together for common good.
Listening, understanding, and finding common ground is a complicated process. How do we show kids how to treat each other? How can they learn to get along with others; to talk, work, and play together; to enjoy being with each other?...” ‘
In 2021, Critical Race Theory was the lightning rod. Today we have many fault lines: The war between Israel and Hamas, antisemitism and the people of Gaza, identity culture generally, book banning, immigration, economic insecurity, suspicion of each other, and a total breakdown in communication and trust. Yet I continue to believe: We are better than this; we do not want another civil war; we crave kindness and respectful understanding; we need each other to protect and preserve our country and our own well-being. I am not speaking only to “we the people,” but to our representatives - both Democrat and Republican. They must listen and respond to our needs, wants, fears, and hopes. It will not be easy, but in 2021, I concluded:
“If we really listen to each other, my hope is that one day soon, we and our children will no longer judge or be judged by stereotypes and tropes, but only by what we say, what we do, and how we treat each other as human beings. Am I too optimistic? I do not think so. Everything is possible if we want it badly enough.”
“We do not have to think alike to listen to each other’s views. It is especially when we do not agree that we should appreciate another’s perspective and be open to real understanding. It is how we grow.
Little ones observe, listen, and subconsciously understand this when they see very different creatures on Sesame Street interact – sometimes with impatience and anger, and always with affection and respect for each other. Older children live the concepts of acceptance and partnership in the give and take of friendships, through team sports and group work in class.
Is school choice always the best choice? Using public school money to lower the cost of private schools is the agenda in Texas and, to some degree, in 25 other states and counting. Questions arise: Who benefits? Who does not? Does academic performance improve? Or not? What is the biggest advantage of school choice? The biggest disadvantage? Read here. Or should we leave public money alone and let those who want private schools pay the lion’s share of the tuition?
High Stakes No More. In the 2024 elections, Massachusetts became the 47th state to take the high stakes out of its state standardized test. In other words, passing the MCAS is no longer a graduation requirement for students who have passed all classes and met other school and state requirements for earning a high school diploma. A few believe voters made a bad decision.
Others believe this vote was long overdue and that ed reforms are needed
Spend a few minutes to read both articles. Do you think the voters got it right? Or not? What ed reforms should come next?
A life lesson for grown-ups. The bedtime story The Smeds and the Smoos by author Julia Donaldson and Illustrator Axel Scheffler exudes the optimism that people can come through the worst of times and land in a better place if they learn to listen to and appreciate each other. Do they make the case?
Watch and listen to David Schwimmer read the story in 2020 on the BBC children’s channel CBeebies.
Question of the Day: GPAs Rising; Learning Declining
For decades, high school students have seen their grades and GPAs rise while their test scores decline. In other words, students are receiving higher grades for learning less. Some possible reasons follow. Check any that apply:
Teachers have lowered their grading standards.
Parents and students pressure teachers and schools to award grades that will make students competitive for college acceptance.
Colleges and other secondary learning institutions have downgraded the importance of SAT and ACT scores.
District superintendents and High School principals want their graduation rates to increase to improve their ranking, keep the DOE at bay, and the money flowing.
Student retention could present problems based on 1) fire laws for school capacity, 2) class size and 3) the possible need for additional teachers and tutors.
High academic expectations are not enforced.
Chronic absenteeism and student behavior issues are inadequately addressed.
For the correct answer, please go to www.merleschell.com/blog/afraid-to-fail
From Me to You: Happy Thanksgiving
On March 6, 1943, The Saturday Evening Post published this iconic Norman Rockwell painting. It has come to represent the homely values of an ordinary family gathered together to share a meal and celebrate their blessings. It is a scene repeated in many of our homes during the holiday season.
The painting titled “Freedom from Want” drew quick backlash.
WWII still raged abroad, and those suffering were insulted by an abundance in the painting that seemed to mock them.
They did not understand that the painting was not reality, but the goal for those who fought or waited, including Americans. It took two and half years more for the war to end.
At home, author Carlos Bulosan wrote an essay for the same Post issue. He described a life of poverty, hard times, prejudice, and cruelty that he experienced as a Filipino immigrant.
Rockwell keenly understood the contrast and criticism. Embarrassed that people would think him arrogant and unfeeling, he considered discarding the painting. His editor argued that the painting and Bulosan’s essay showed the two sides of America - its fulfilled promise and the struggles endured to attain it.
The dream, the promise, and the struggle are universal quests for all those everywhere who fight for freedom. President Franklin Roosevelt knew this, when in 1941, he inspired the American people to meet the moment in his State of the Union address known as the Four Freedoms: Of speech, of religion, from fear, and from want.
There are always mighty problems but listening to each other is the best first step to solving them. For now, let’s take a moment to wish each other a Happy Thanksgiving and winning football teams. Pass the gravy, please.