Gestures of Progress

Amid all the racial tension we have been witnessing, our president signed an executive order protecting statues of military war heroes.  This comes after a flurry of activity about what to do with old statues that may symbolize racism.  This is yet another reminder of how hard it it is to be an American.  We seem to find ourselves in the most paradoxical situations and this one is no different.  Should we remove these public symbols of the Confederacy and racism?

Some things to consider.  First, we have to acknowledge that these figures may represent dark places of our history, but are still part of our history. The fact is that some of these statues represent beloved founding fathers that were slave owners and the truth is that slavery is over.  There are pieces of the American story that we are not proud of.  We can't erase those parts of history, but we can choose to move on from them.

Second, our history is rich with change and innovation.  Why do we not celebrate this as we go?  What if our monuments reflected how far we have come, instead of where we used to be?  Construction started on Mount Rushmore in 1927.  Did they really think that these four men were the best we were going to get?  I really never understood the back lash of putting Harriet Tubman on the 20 dollar bill.  This would be a symbol of progress in America.  Moving something out doesn't mean we have to forget about it.  It just means that we know where we are going and what it means to have come this far.

Third, these choices represent our values.  So what does this situation say about current American values?  Right now it means that we can still be polarized about an issue of decorum.  We have one side that says you can't erase history by removing statues.  We have another side that says these statues represent and symbolize institutionalized racism.  Picking a side seems to be our most prominent American value these days.  I'm not sure a sculptor could make a statue of that. 

I am not suggesting we destroy all these statues and monuments, but we have to move on from old stories.  If people in Kentucky can move on by removing a statue, then the nation can.  NASA will be renaming their headquarters after Mary Jackson, their first African American female engineer.  These are gestures of progress, not erasing history.  Those gestures have been going on for years.  Newsweek reported two years ago that over a hundred confederate statues had been removed across the US.  I don't recall any national outrage.  My point is, our old stories belong in museums.  The new stories of our country should be displayed.  You can celebrate our progress and still not forget our history.

A statue of Robert E. Lee being removed in Dallas back in 2017. (Newsweek)

A New War on Poverty

It is time for a new war on poverty.  Looking around and connecting so many of our country's toughest issues to poverty and economic opportunity is not a difficult task.  Our first war on poverty began in 1964 in conjunction with the Civil Rights Act.  While many could argue it's success and failures, there was a foundation laid for future efforts.  The reality is that the overall poverty rate since the war on poverty began has largely remained unchanged.  Sure there was some immediate relief, but it is obvious we have done little to protect and uplift the poor in a meaningful way since then.

Let's take one example of how not addressing poverty hurts us.  Poverty has an effect on crime rates.  Not addressing poverty helps the continuation of incarceration of poor people and makes social mobility nearly impossible.  This post is a great look at many societal factors affected by poverty.  We have to break these cycles and lift people out of poverty if we want to see thriving communities and better relationships.  Lack of economic opportunity has always led to tension and discrimination.  It is time to wage a new war on poverty and do better for our nation.

What should a new war on poverty look like?

• Paid Career training and assistance for in-demand fields.  Medical professions, trades and teaching all have candidate shortages and they are jobs that can provide upward mobility.
• True enforcement of current laws that protect the poor and minorities.  For example, housing discrimination still takes place despite 50 year old laws to combat the practice.
• Medicare for all is a must.  The biggest reason for someone to file bankruptcy is medical bills.  This is a barrier to social mobility.  Let's not forget to mention that a healthy workforce is a strong one.
• Restructure the federal student loan program to ensure that first generation college students do not end up in a debtor's prison.  

I'm sure an economist could devise a better list with better ideas.  I'm a rare example of a guy that moved from generational poverty to the middle class and I strive to help others do the same.  We have to build upon what was started in 1964.  Times have changed but the poverty rate has not.  If that is not a signal to do better, I don't know what one is.  As things seem to crumble around us, we cannot feel helpless to the point of inaction or bowing to political positioning.  We have to demand what is best for us as a nation.  That includes lifting up others.

Vote by Mail is a Pitch in the Dirt

Vote by mail had turned into a point of discussion weeks ago due to safety concerns during the pandemic.  Now the issue is renewed in Illinois after JB Pritzker signed new legislation into effect that will send vote by mail applications to 5 million Illinoisans ahead of the November elections.  As you would guess, I have no problem with voting by mail.  Not everyone sees it that way so I would like to challenge everyone to instead examine the real voting issues that keep people from voting and keeps career politicians in office.

How do Democrat’s and republicans differ on the vote by mail issue?  Democrats want to increase participation and allow many who are afraid to vote during the pandemic to do so safely.  Republicans worry about voter fraud.  It became  a heated partisan issue when  Republicans claimed  that it impacts them directly.  Research shows that it has no benefit to either party.  If you want a deeper dive into election fraud, The Heritage Foundation created a good interactive map to see what issues each state has had.  They report 1285 instances of voter fraud over an extended period of time.  That number compared to all voters does not seem like a very high percentage of fraud taking place.  Only four documented cases of voter fraud took place in the 2016 election.

Do not be distracted from the real problems.  The two real issues to focus on here are election day administration and gerrymandering.  Take a look at what happened in Atlanta recently on their primary election day.  Many voters waited hours in line just to be shuffled around and given alternative ballots because machines could not be operated.  As a technologically advanced country, why does this happen?  I won't point the finger just yet and say it is on purpose to keep people from voting (oops I just did), but we clearly do not value the practice of voting.  Voting is the easiest way to have your voice heard in our democracy.  If we are the great nation we say we are, the administration of the process on election day, would have more resources devoted to it.  If you looked at the Heritage Foundation site, you would see many of the fraud cases  come from registration and double voting.  A boost in effort and resources could prevent these things from happening.  We have to say that it is important enough that we will spend extra time and resources for a smooth election day.  Otherwise, we are accepting the status quo that produces consistently low voter turnout and less than desirable results.

Gerrymandering.  I'm sure you remember that funny word from high school government class.  If you need a review, it is simply drawing districts where your base voters are.  Look at this congressional map of Ohio.  The current map on the left should have some red flags.  Look how jagged and strategically manufactured those districts are.  Especially the district that Cleveland is in.  This practice benefits the party in power because they get to draw the map.  If redrawn in either other configuration, the popular vote would have more say over the outcome.  In fact, in the 2018 election, Democrats won 2035 seats in the House with a 6.7% popular vote margin.  Republicans could have won 235 seats with just a 1.1% margin. (Please click on the link for the methodology.)





I can't image anyone seeing this as fair.  We all complain about career politicians and I support term limits fully.  Completely ending gerrymandering would not only make things better for voters, it would put politicians on notice that they are there to serve and if not it may be a short stay.

The vote by mail issue is a pitch in the dirt.  Don't chase it.  There are other election problems to tackle that would create the results we want.  If we want to strengthen our democracy, we have to take control of the issues and not let those who benefit tell us what to think about.  Demand reform in the areas that will  impact democracy the most.

The Time I used Public Enemy as a Teaching Tool

It seems like educators are called to fix every social ill and the current state of affairs is no different. As our country is again being reminded of racism and discrimination that take place everyday, there are calls for schools to step up and fill the need to help end this societal disease.  California's State Superintendent spoke words that rang out to me.  He said,

“Today we should be in a classroom helping students process all that is happening around us,” he said in a statement. “Schools must be part of the solution because a great education is the most important part of the path out of poverty. But opportunity gaps for black students have persisted for more than a generation. The war on poverty declared more than 50 years ago seems to have been lost.” 

I cannot imagine that any educator could disagree with this statement.  For those that often complain that we are asked to bear too many burdens, let me offer a different perspective.

I used to teach geography to sophomores.  One day we were mindlessly going through he motions of our textbook when one of my students asked about a tiny graphic in the corner of a page.  It was a diagram of the slave trade routes.  His interest turned into classroom interest.  Two thirds of my class was African American and the level of curiosity on the topic told me that I was not doing enough to meet their educational needs.  From that point on, we jumped out of the textbook and I created a unit on the slave trade that even included an exercise in breaking down the lyrics of the Public Enemy song, Can't Truss It.  I remember that day like it was yesterday.  Imagine a classroom of students marking and writing on their lyric sheets while they bobbed their heads to the music.  It was great. This didn't make me a hero to my African American students.  I proved to them that I would go out of my way to meet their needs and help them develop their own perspective.  They knew I was there to educate them.

As a white man, I think I exceeded their expectations and many barriers were broken down that might have only been perceived.  If my students and I relied simply on our implicit biases it may have played out differently.  I likely would have dismissed the new adventure as someone that was not credible to them because of my skin color.  They could have dismissed me as only telling the story in a way that was convenient to a white person.  There are a ton of ways that this activity could have become disingenuous to both student and teacher.  What happened was that I gave all of my effort to meet the needs of my students that were hungry for knowledge and social perspective.  Educators, this is our super power.

We are agents of change for so many social problems like bullying, poverty and racism. We should see this as a badge of honor and really take this distinction seriously. The next time someone complains that the schools should be doing more to fix a problem, know that the complaint you heard was a huge compliment.  Right now it is time to put on your capes and be ready to teach beyond what is expected of us when we come back.  They will need us now more than ever with the challenges that our country is facing.  They need our calm and our super powers.  Meaningful change takes place one person at a time and it can start in our classrooms.  As you plan for next school year, let's find ways to meet these challenges and be proud that society expects us to do it.

Where the Next Man's Nose Begins

By now I’m sure we have all seen this image. Protesters in Michigan demanding that their state reopen made national headlines along with other such protests. This picture to many represents the anger the protesters are feeling. Maybe you see poor behavior on the part of the protesters. I look at this a little differently. To me it is a study of rights and responsibilities.

One of the great joys of my professional life was teaching civics and government. “Your rights end where the next man’s nose begins” I would always say.  I heard that in college and despite not knowing it's exact origins, I rehashed it anyway.  The point is you have the freedom to do whatever you want as long as you don't hurt others in the process.

It is our right to protest. It was one of the first ideas the framers had when writing the Bill of Rights.  The first amendment encompasses many of the freedoms that we embrace the most.  You have the right to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.  I am a strong believer in these rights and I recognize everyone's freedom to exercise them.  Protest whatever you want and despite my opposition, I will acknowledge your right to protest.  Even though the protester below makes my blood boil, I will respect their rights to display this incredibly insensitive poster.  Just like when my blood boils to see an American flag being burned.

It is our responsibility to not harm others while exercising those rights.  This is where the next man's nose begins.  While I'm happy to celebrate the free speech rights of all our people, I'm a little more critical of how people exercise their responsibilities.  The visual of armed protesters is definitely off putting.  Until you do your homework and find out that it is not new.  These pictures were taken about 50 years apart.  Michigan protesters on the left wanting to re-open their state and Black Panthers on the right protesting a gun control bill in the Washington State Legislature.  Both are menacing photos of conveying a message in an extreme way.

  

American citizenship is challenging.  I think it was meant to be by the framers of the Constitution.  They laid out what our given rights were, but not the responsibilities of the citizenry to exercise them.  They left that to us.  Not being aware of our responsibility to each other or disregarding it takes us to a dark place.  Our present day protesters have a legitimate message.  They have the right be heard, but showing up in mass during a pandemic and openly brandishing firearms is not responsible.  Instead of activism, the intimidation and aggressive behaviors used border on terrorism.  I hate to use such a strong word, but we have to face the facts.

As I sit and type this, I am exercising my right to free speech.  In no way shape or form will I defame anyone or commit libel or slander in the process.  That is my responsibility.  I know exactly where the next man's nose begins.  If we all can do this, maybe protest turns into dialog and maybe division can turn into consensus.  We are stronger together than we are apart.  History has been a great teacher in that regard.  Pushing us into extremes will not allow any progress.  Protest all you want, but be responsible in being heard.  You never know who may be hurt in the process.

Teacher Appreciation Ramble

I almost picked up an LSAT application in college.  Late in my teacher education program, I seriously considered becoming an attorney.  I had inspiring instructors to blame for that.  I was a social studies education major and my schedule filled up with courses in law and government.  I enjoyed the logic and back and forth of the legal argument.  I loved going to class to hear about and read about cases where the little guy took their troubles all the way to the Supreme Court to set precedence that defined the rights of an entire country.  How can you not be inspired by that?  I was convinced that to elevate the little guy, I had to become an attorney.

Once I started student teaching I realized that this was not true.  This is not a knock on attorneys.  This is was an adjustment of my professional logic.  Those inspiring college instructors influenced me to inspire my students with the same stories.  I learned really quickly that as my students became as invested and as curious as I was, I was creating informed citizens.  It is much more rewarding thinking that I am preventing the existence of the little guy.  The notion that you can build empowered people with your daily work should inspire anyone to become a teacher.

Fast forward to the present.  I can see this turning into a ramble.  The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a whole new respect for teachers.  I have to admit that I love seeing the admiration for the work of a teacher on social media.  I feel like people have gotten a little taste of what teachers do.  Just a little taste.  These classrooms have two to three students in them.  These teachers can let school out early when the day gets tough.  These teachers don't have to worry about their students' safety and well being over a weekend.  Don't get me wrong, parents at my school have done a great job helping our kids with their work.  It still cannot substitute for a person giving their professional lives to countless kids that don't belong to them.  I hope that this feeling of admiration for teachers during the pandemic is genuine and permanent.

I hope you take time to reflect on the teachers that have impacted you.  I wrote about my turnaround teacher in a blog post a few years ago.  I think we all have a teacher that we will never forget.  I can't say that about any attorney (sorry guys).  When I tell my students that I wanted to be an attorney at one point, they always ask why I didn't.  The consensus is that being a lawyer is a way cooler job.  They don't get what us teacher types understand and that is okay.  I only hope that my teachers and I help them find their purpose and chase their personal missions.  We have the opportunities and unique skill sets for this that parent-teachers do not have.

I know I'm rambling, but think about the scene in Saving Private Ryan when he reveals to his men that he was a school teacher?  That was a huge turning point in the movie because all of those soldiers can relate to a teacher.  They put two and two together and saw his leadership skills and it all made sense.  Teachers are special people even in the movies.

I could do this all day.  Let's reduce the ramble into a bullet-ed list.

• Teaching is not a job, it is a life.
• Teacher's work is never done, only improved.
• Teachers make more decisions in a day than just about any other profession.
• Teachers have to deal with the constant moving target set by policy makers.
• Teachers get bashed online, but can't bash back.
• Teachers are being asked more and more to be familiar with psychology and prescription meds.
• Teachers are learning survival practices in the event of a shooting.
• Teachers are in very short supply.

Honestly, I could go on and on.  It's easy to ramble on and on about something that means so much.  Teachers, you mean a lot to a lot of people.  Please know your worth and know that you are appreciated.  Danielson may think you are "Proficient" but I think you are all rock stars.  Ramble over.

Mission Never Accomplished

While I am hating all the setbacks that have come with this pandemic, it has provided me time to do all the things that I say I have no time to do.  While cleaning out the garage, we sat and sorted through some boxes and totes that were a mystery when it came to their contents.  We got to take a great trip down memory lane with old pictures that turned into stories to tell the kids.  One box turned up a couple old newspaper articles that were written when I started my tenure at Central Junior High School.

I remember that interview like it was yesterday.  I remember calling each teacher and just talking to them.  I remember the massive ring of keys that were left for me.  I remember pouring over old files in the office learning everything I could about my new school.  Then I realized that that article hit the paper almost ten years ago.  I will be entering my tenth year as the Principal of CJHS on July 1st.

I read the article.  A few lines stuck out for reflection.  Bob Ellis of the Daily American wrote that I exuded confidence and I had a keen attitude for getting the job done.  After a short bio and a couple accomplishments at Elverado I found this quote from me, "Student success comes first.  That not only means that we should be on the cutting edge of how to educate students but we must be willing to raise the bar for them so that they may exceed their own expectations."  I really enjoyed reading this for one really big reason.

I feel like this is something I would have said last week.  I have had a lot of one of a kind experiences at CJHS.  I have the honor of awards and the agony of working though troubled waters.  Over this time I am most proud of the idea that I feel like I am on the same mission from where I started.  Many things have changed around me, but I have stayed on mission.  I looked through he faces of this picture.  After having a couple mental laughs, I realized that these kids got the same me that my students will get in August.

Principals these days do not last this long in their schools.  One report has the average stay of a middle school Principal as 4.48 years.  Another report says that only 11% of principals stay ten years or more at one school.  My current contract will take me through year twelve.  If you find yourself in this rare air, I hope you are still on mission like you were on day one.  Because this mission is never accomplished.  There is no finish line.  The mission is the pursuit of serving students in the best way possible.  The job of the Principal is a tough one and we have to settle for it never being done.