Supporting our COVID-19 Troops

I will admit that when the COVID-19 pandemic was starting, I was a skeptic.  Yes, I was one of those that said things like "It's only the flu" and "people only care because rich folks are getting it."  That was back in January though.  A lot has changed since then and my thinking has changed also.  Sure, my family is undergoing changes and sacrifices like everyone else.  Sure, I am frustrated that the school year is over for my children and my students.  The whole thing is very sad, but we stand determined.

I finally broke down and began watching the images from the news.  I was struck by two contrasting themes currently taking place in our country.  First, I watched a great piece on Nightline about the front lines of the crisis in the hospitals of New York City.  As I watched the struggle of the medical professionals being profiled and the conditions in which they were working in, it reminded me of seeing footage of war.  In my lifetime, war has never been fought in our country.  We have to watch the conflict play out on the news from countries that most people cannot locate on a map.  My heart was tugged on when I realized that these people are fighting this fight here.  These are our people trying to save our people.  Not a war that many don't understand in a far away place.

The other side of the narrative is the protesting going on in various parts of the country to re-open their states amid this pandemic.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I understand the hurt that people would like to end.  My wife and her sister own a small business and they are seeing the burdens of the shutdown firsthand.  We have a legitimate concern to keep our economy running and I will not try to dispute that.  I see this as just another way we have become polarized as a country.  We are once again forced to take one side or the other.  You are either for re-opening the country or for saving as many lives as possible.



What an unfair position the American people find themselves in.  If we use my clumsy comparison of this pandemic being a war fought on our soil, sacrifices have to be made.  During World War II, the U.S. government began to ration food through a system of ration books.  This was a radical move, but necessary for the war effort.  At no time have we ever questioned the idea of supporting our troops during conflict or war.  But, war has not affected us this way in my lifetime because war has never been this close to home.

If, for the sake of this comparison, our medical professionals and scientists are the troops in the trenches of this war then we have to sacrifice a little longer for them.  They are fighting to save lives and to find a vaccine.  They fight today to protect us from this virus in the future.  I know it's hard make the best out of this difficult situation and even those war ration books were not perfect for the situation.  We have to give them a fighting chance.  Even the president considers us at war with an "invisible enemy" so maybe we need to support our troops a little bit longer.  We will get through this, but we can't do that without a united front to make the needed sacrifices.

Maslow before Bloom’s

The first time I heard this term was on Scott England’s podcast. I was so struck by the concept that I added some slides to my Poverty Practitioner workshop presentation. What a powerful way to think.  We need to meet their greatest personal needs before we meet their educational needs. This is definitely a useful mindset for those hoping to make an impact on their low-income students.

This concept became our reality when the COVID-19 shutdown took place and we found ourselves without our students. It is a proud moment when I see news stories and posts about the work of school staff providing the basics like food and social service support. Sometimes the best way to adopt a new mindset is to be pushed into it by things out of your control. The education community and risen to the occasion and brought life to the concept and in many places has been taken to a new level.  This proves we have always been “essential” employees because we serve our state’s most essential resource.

This also applies to us. We feel the void emotionally when our most vulnerable students’ progress and  health is no longer in our hands.  I have said before that heartbreak is a trait of a great teacher. This has certainly been tested with recent events. It is hard to hear one of your teachers express their worry and concern for kids they know need them. It’s hard for me to get emails from kids asking when we get to come back and if I can help them get medication if they run out. If you are feeling stressed out, you are not alone. This is not time to sit out. Our kids need you to be just as dependable as you have before.

The challenge now is can we continue the idea of Maslow before Bloom’s after this crisis is over?  Have we experienced enough to make this a permanent mindset?  I say don’t stop what we have started. Don’t stop feeding them physically and emotionally. Don’t stop making them feel wanted and included.  These thangs carry far more value than any learning packet. We also know that the brain will respond better when their emotional needs are met and those learning packets won’t be so bad. But hey, look who I’m preaching to. The best people on Earth.

Lastly, I need to give a special thanks to the Illinois PTA. They recently named me the Administrator of the Year and I am very appreciative and humbled by the honor.  Since my very first year as a building principal, I have understood the partnership between myself and the families that I serve. I take that connection very seriously and I have been blessed with great parent group members. A couple years ago we affiliated with the PTA and that relationship has proven to be a huge benefit to our parents and families. On behalf of Central Junior High School, I would like to thank the Illinois PTA for what they do for our schools and families.