Which Story Will You Feed?
For every person who says, “The education system is crumbling,” there is a teacher painstakingly researching new ways to meet the evolving needs of all their students.
For every person who says, “No one wants to go into teaching right now,” there is a student-teacher methodically testing ideas that will become tomorrow’s best practices.
For every person who says, “We’ll never recover from the effects of learning loss,” there is a mentor patiently taking an extra lap with a learner because they believe in relationships over rigor, and that both are necessary for the development of the whole person.
For every person who says, “Kids aren’t being prepared for the future,” there is a student eagerly designing a project about frogs because frogs might be the answer to a rare medical condition that runs in their family, but also maybe because they just love frogs and children should be able to become the world’s leading expert on frogs if that’s what their heart desires.
<breathe>
This is not about ignoring hard truths or sugar coating the cracks – deep systemic issues need to be addressed. This is about shifting the narrative. There are two stories out there. One in which education is plagued by dis-ease on a one-way track to systemic failure. And another of healing and repair. Of redesign and critical hope. Of the antidote. Of revolution.
Which narrative of education are you fed by the data tracking algorithms online? Which anecdotes do you tell in your conversations about school? Which stories do you create through the work that you do?
Which story will you feed?
<breathe>
As an homage to Gil Scott Heron, who recorded the poem “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” in 1970, I wrote an updated version as a call to action for those who may still be “Waiting for Superman” to realize that the answer is already here – there are remarkable examples of teaching and learning happening everywhere, all the time and you can choose to be a part of it or at the very least help tell that story. I invite you to listen to, “Your Education Will Not Be Televised” and post a response below.
Share a story of hope, healing, learning, or impact.
Share a personal call to action.
Share a hard truth about the status quo, but follow it with what keeps you going.
Share a dream, a question, a doubt, a worry.
Whatever it is, share honestly.
And remember that each time you share, you shape the narrative.
Which story will you feed?
