More or Less

There is a growing rise of discomfort, disruption, and disdain in the world of education—elementary through college. How will the systems respond, change, evolve? How will the individuals engage, pioneer, champion improvement? What’s the impact on the learners—short-term and long-term? How is that change (or lack thereof) magnified in our society as a whole over the next year, decade, generation? I would propose we need more of some things and less of others.

A more common-sense approach to what is important in education and less infighting over whose political, racial, social, personal beliefs and platforms should take precedence in the school. More critical thinking and analysis and less indoctrination into one singular perspective.

More empowerment of those who are doing the work and less pronouncements by those who don’t know education nor have served or even visited a classroom outside of being a student.

More informed decision-making that considers the whole and a longer-range vision and less knee-jerk reactions and uninformed declarations that are band-aid fixes for a hemorrhaging system.

More willingness to embrace advancements to update our instructional approaches; ChatGPT and AI are not the end of teaching or learning. It’s just another step toward the future. Less bellyaching that computers and technology are the end of education. They are really an advancement if we take the time to learn how to use them as tools and assets for teaching and engagement.

More collaboration between secondary, postsecondary, and businesses to update current processes, content, and pathways. What worked in the Horace Mann era is not what is needed in our current AI era. Come together at the table and have thoughtful and courageous conversations about what the real needs are. Less pointing fingers and placing blame on others. Everyone has to own their share of the problem and commit to fixing it.

More appreciation and respect for those who have boots on the ground. Less treatment of educators as a cog in a machine. Can you imagine having to ask for someone to watch your desk so you could go to the restroom or managing a board presentation during your 30-minute lunch break every day or detailing what you will work on each day and every hour and with whom and with what resources and how you will know if the work was good the week before you have to do it while you are still trying to do all of that for the current week?

More grounding in practical, realistic, reliable, smart solutions. Less of a “silver bullet” buckshot approach.

More time on meaningful learning. Less time on creating data that is never acted upon.

More conversations. Less bickering.

More action. Less debate.

Education Pk-16 as a whole needs a systemic, systematic, and sweeping change. More or less.