A THREE PART SERIES
Filled with a fluff interior, the Hostess Twinkie is mass produced in a factory and contains 37 unrecognizable ingredients. This convenient, plastic wrapped snack is loaded with preservatives, calories and sugar, which all work together to elicit the intended result: a long shelf life, instant gratification, and an unquenchable desire for more. It is a factory workers job to regulate uniformity in order that each one is identical to the next.
“We will never be a private school, and private schools will never be public schools. Private schools have so much more ‘choice’ in their decision to follow state guidelines, which is why so many (people) choose to transfer to private school options. The best part of our community/society is that there are choices for each family.”
SoWashCo public school Principal, May 2021
Is there though? IS THERE CHOICE? Maybe for those who can afford the time commitment to commute every day and the additional cost of tuition … maybe we can call that choice, however it comes with significant sacrifices. In a government structure that funds the system instead of the person, who gets to be publicly funded? Unfortunately, money and power will always win, not the kids and not the families and not even the teachers. Community loses. Is this by design? As a parent, it can feel like a game is being played by Departments of Education and Teachers Unions.
If a government structure were to fund the person instead of the system, everybody in the community wins.
Our family really was blessed with a handful of amazing educators at Liberty Ridge Elementary and Lake Middle School. Those teachers will always be remembered and appreciated by us. But the public school system takes their power away. The system does not value talent and individuality among the many wonderful educators and their student engagement methods.
What the system does do however, is encourage and protect the mediocrity of the not-so-great teachers. Last school year, a considerable amount of valuable class time was spent on screens watching movies, videos, and news media. During student walkouts, when children were “in-person”, most teachers chose to protest rather than teach. Learning did not continue for those kids who remained in class. Now, I understand this is a very difficult time to be a teacher, however …
When public schooling turns into community babysitting, then the system is failing to do its job.
The 2020/21 school year at Lake MS and ERHS are my most recent experiences with public schooling, before my husband and I un-enrolled our kids. At this Secondary level I have seen SoWashCo send the message to our children that a person’s group categorization is more important than their individuality. A hyper focus on victimization highlights and exacerbates weaknesses, anxieties, and insecurities. I have to think a better learning environment could be nurtured if attention were shifted away from this perpetual state of grievance toward a more positive development of strength and good moral character.
At the public high school, it would appear kids are being taught to believe their greatest value to society is in their activism. The school encourages these young adults to be shaped by mainstream media, fear, and regurgitated half truths. Many school boards across Minnesota have proven, over the past two years, a lack of understanding for the families they swore an oath to represent. The reactionary response to headline news sends a very clear message that their priorities are not in the education of my child so much as in the political correctness of the moment.
Many families are not accepting this politically filtered education, and enrollment has reflected their sentiment. When compared to the massive boom in city-wide growth throughout Woodbury and Cottage Grove, SoWashCo public school enrollment remains lower than expected. There are shortages in teacher, paraprofessional, and substitute teaching positions. While Superintendent Julie Nielsen has not conducted exit surveys to find out WHY families and teachers are leaving, she does like to point at Covid-19 for nearly every district setback.
The system is designed to benefit those at the top of the pyramid, not the local community at the bottom. In the current system, families are completely at the mercy of the pyramid of power and influence. Parents who can’t afford to pay for a double portion of tax and tuition, don’t have options, It’s no wonder teachers are exhausted because they are stuck in the middle between 1) teaching curriculum, 2) following MDE and CDC and teachers union guidelines, and 3) answering to parents on behalf of the school pyramid balanced on their shoulders.
Case in point: A parent asks a question to a teacher. The teacher refers them to the school principal. The principal says he/she is following the Superintendents decision. The Superintendent explains she compared us to surrounding district decisions, and then she points to the State. The Governor works with MN Dept of Education, and MDE partially makes decisions based on Education MN who requires guidelines be met with CDC. So it gets bounced back on the teachers, and where does the cycle stop? The parent receives a half answer, at best.
“Unfortunately no one system (public or private) can meet everyone’s needs, philosophies and/or wants. I certainly wish we could though!”
SoWashCo public school Principal, May 2021
Why can’t we though? Who says a government funded “system” is what’s best for a society? Private school and home school results far exceed that of the public school. We can look at models of education that are successful, and we can find a better way. WE CAN DO BETTER.