In a normal year and time, which this assuredly is not, I would be visiting schools and helping to share with the community the activities of Education Week.
As I mentioned, this is not a normal time, so because of COVID-19, we cannot go into any of the schools to show anything.
This is part of the evil that is COVID, that it somehow trumps everything that is good and “normal” and pure in life and in the community, and in the name of keeping everyone safe we can’t do anything.
Now, after taking a breath, I realize you can’t ascribe evilness or goodness to a virus — I know this, for any readers who are currently rolling their eyes at me (you know who you are).
Just as a side rant here, while I know a virus cannot be said to be good or bad, how is it that this virus is nothing but bad then? There is no good, no upside to this virus, and to those who are just sick and tired of this whole pandemic, I get it, I hear you.
The main topic ought to be about our education system, and the current champions of that system, our teachers.
I cannot imagine what hard work it must be to be a teacher at the best of times, but to be one now with the added stresses and worries over this pandemic and its impact on school, on how kids learn, and on what they can and cannot do, must be immense.
But nonetheless, the overarching goal here is to teach and educate our children, and help them to learn and develop to be the future leaders, business people, farmers, ranchers, doctors, lawyers and everything else they can think of.
How do they learn in this environment? Well, kids are resilient and will learn whatever you can teach them. They also learn by observing how their parents, teachers and people in the community live and conduct their lives.
What they will see in school, at least, are people who reaching above and beyond to deliver not only the curriculum subjects, but also how to live within unreasonably severe restrictions. Their teachers are showing them that regardless of the outward circumstanes, you can still be good, productive and positive (well, most of the time) influences on others.
I am hoping that this week, both students and their parents, and members of the community at large, will pass on their appreciation and support to the teaching staff, as well as to all the support staff who are also key personnel in the schools. This is not a normal time, but perhaps it will encourage each of us to be extraordinary for our children.
