How a Kernal of Wisdom Can Lead the Way

A Kernal of Wisdom


I cannot help but think back to 1982, I was a sophomore, sitting inside a research room, on the third floor in the Orchard Park high school library, listening to my guidance counselor, Mrs. Peterson, discussing the career options that we faced as we neared the often over-hyped, critical decision-making moment of adulthood. I specifically remember that Mrs. Peterson pointed to what appeared to be a television screen with a key board in front of it. She explained that this was a computer and that this new technology is "going to be really big" in the future. Well, needless to say, I could not envision how having a t.v. screen would make typing my papers or essays any easier.

Flash forward twenty-four years and I kick myself in the backside thinking of the many financial opportunities missed as a result of my ignorance, or the inability of the system at the time to help me think about our world differently. Now, I believe I had a tremendous group of people as teachers, and truly believe that an individual's educational experience is in direct proportion to the amount of effort that individual puts forth. Hey, lets face it, in 1982, no one I knew could have possibly foreseen the potential of that little t.v. screen. I also believe that the educational institution back in 1982, was not set up to allow for that form of creative exploration.

However, here I stand, twenty-four years later, as an educator, in the very institution that could not foresee the potential impact of a computer. I believe the educational institution in America is at a very important crossroads that will absolutely define the future of this nations economic competitiveness, as well as its position relative to the rest of the world. Currently, our educational institution is anchored in a search for academic accountability, both for the teachers as well as the students. That accountability has become oppressive due in part to our political leadership, as well as our culture, at the federal, state, and local levels, which have steered education toward a path of standardization, content, and conformity. This industrial form of education may have best served the masses when the sources of knowledge were limited by geography or other socio-economic reasons. However, sophomores in today's high schools live in a completely different environment than I did in 1982. The current technology has washed away barriers to information and opened up the world to an era of unprecedented accessibility. No longer do students need to depend on the teacher and the physical classroom or school as the source of knowledge, they can reach out and touch any idea, on any level, almost anywhere in the world. What is disappointing is our educational INSTITUTION is not recognizing this change. So here I sit, at the crossroads, in a wonderful and exciting era of change, contemplating my role in this changing academic environment, when I begin to think about a little kernal of wisdom I read years ago. Mr. Yunke, a science teacher at Orchard Park, would put on his chalkboard a daily quote, in hopes of inspiring thought. One of the first little kernals I can remember was the old Chinese quote "a journey of a thousand miles begins with one single step". This quote always seems to be something I say whenever I begin a large project, or start to pursue an idea. Today, I find myself repeating those very same words. This time, my first steps begin a journey that will be extremely challenging.

The First Step: My Declaration

Change must occur!!! Our academic community, teacher, student, administrator, and parent must begin to redefine their role and function within the school. Teachers need to recognize that their role and relationship with the student must be redefined as facilitator, learner, model, and coach. Students need to recognize how the technology empowers them unlike an other era in our history. Administrators must become visionaries, promoting creativity from their faculty that will expand student learning beyond the content standards. Parents must realize their ability to become more involved in their child's academic and intellectual growth. Education must look to maximize the intellectual powers of both all groups in ways never before achieved. The long held institutional ideals of accountability and standardization must evolve into something more practical for the 21st century student.

This is my proclamation, my beginning. I will chronicle this journey, with questions, insight, examples, and testimonies in the hopes of helping others recognize the need for change.