Quiet Service
Exactly 80 years ago today, Pearl Harbor was bombed. This date now entitled “Remembrance Day” on many calendars; for my parent’s generation and much of my own, we remember the service from so many of our ancestors. Military service is what may first come to mind, but that is just one example of much of the work done as a result of this tragic event. COVID and Climate “cancer” are two more tragic events, and these are global. Now more than ever before humans need to focus on service to others (human and non). In honor of my ancestors, Edgar Reed Hawley, a WWII veteran, Marion Louise Seifert Hawley and Jessie Ann Cresswell Seifert, both former public school teachers, I dedicate this post and my pledge to be of service in some small way every day of my life.
This evening I listened to an episode from a favorite Podcast “A Bit of Optimism” hosted by the inspirational human observer, Simon Sinek. The title of this episode inspired the title for this post. The Podcast episode originally played on August 3, 2020 and if you care to hear it, and I highly recommend listening, here’s the link: Quiet Service.
This afternoon, I read an editorial in my local, weekly newspaper whose author would probably never think of a link between his comments and the above-mentioned conversation. Nonetheless, his editorial raised the hackles on the back of my protective lioness’ neck and this evening’s listening helped me frame my reaction into a (hopefully) productive response. I hope my chosen words do my intent justice; I recognize that intent and impact often don’t align. My intent is that we as a small social community in Kent County Maryland recognize the quiet service role all our public school employees, especially teachers, play in the forming of our community’s culture.
We must start embracing our role in the progress of our schools, whether or not we have family members or friends currently attending or working in public school. Yes, as the editorial’s author advises (and I quote): “…parents: Join the movement sweeping the nation, wake up, and take charge.” I wholeheartedly support parental involvement in young citizens’ education. If you want that to be specifically part of the public school experience, I strongly recommend substitute teaching. (Currently there is a huge deficit in the availability of needed substitute teachers, and it pays about $90/day - what a great way to supplement your income. Yes, I’m being sarcastic. Income has never been the motivator for teaching.) Furthermore, I recommend you sit in on classes whenever you can and LISTEN. Certainly offer your comments during a lesson whenever they are relevant to the content and useful in facilitating independent thinking. Otherwise, simply sit and listen to the lesson and discussion and show the young citizens in each class that what they are learning is critical and fascinating, even when it doesn’t seem that way in the exact moment given everything else going on in their teen or pre-teen aged body’s development.
As far as “low expectations” (the newspaper editorial’s title), please research and understand the yardstick used for said “measurement”. More importantly, ask yourself, what did you learn in school (grades K-12) and was its significance accurately measured by some standardized test scores? If so, what was the standard, and more importantly, did this align with your “success” as an adult member of your chosen community?
Public education is wonderful, and it mirrors all the possibilities and shortcomings of the community it serves. Keep in mind that what you nourish will flourish. (Similar to the indigenous American fable of the “good wolf and the bad wolf” that exists in each of us. When the grandson asked his elder which wolf within him would win, the elder replied “the one you feed”). Stop blaming, start lifting up and empowering (and I don’t mean by refueling the ridiculous lessons that serve no purpose but to whitewash the reality of the our country’s development.) Yes, public education can always improve, but “only” as much as the community it serves is willing to support.
What is the “why” for public education? I believe it has nothing to do with outdated, overrated standardized test scores. These support government positions and platforms that have essentially nothing to do with the inspiration and empowerment of our youth’s curiosity and learning. To be the change we want to see in the world and to create a world in which we want our 7th generation to live we need to be teaching and nourishing critical thinking, emotional intelligence, empathy, listening, and innovative problem solving. The study and practice of these concepts is eternal and evolving. It should be embedded in all teaching, at home, school, places of worship, community centers, and more.
Teachers, especially in the public school systems, are inspired to cultivate and nurture curiosity and independent thinking and what better example of quiet service could there be?
Footnote:
This post was also run (with a few edits) in the local Kent County news as a commentary. I hope it inspires and affirms those committed to serving and I agree with the belief General Stan McChrystal explained in his conversation with Simon Sinek during the aforementioned Podcast. Every American citizen, especially those who seek leadership positions within our elected government, should invest at least two years of their life’s journey in public service. It can be in any branch of public service, the military and public education are simply two options.
