EDITOR’S NOTE: Tom Wilkinson, technology coordinator and 23+ year teaching veteran in Lumberton Township School District (NJ), was initially inspired by the The Who’s The Kids are Alright for this article, but as you read on, he changes his tune to The Offspring’s The Kids Aren’t Alright.
Tom's combination of teaching, tech experience and parenting has placed him right in the middle of the malaise facing the education community. His perspective is one with which I'm sure you can relate.
The last seven months haven’t been easy for educators in this disruptive environment. It has been a blur trying to navigate the “new abnormal.”The Who said "The Kids are Alright" in their iconic rock song over 50 years ago...
I am with The Offspring on this one: the kids aren’t alright. Please understand that I’m not a trained psychologist, but as a parent, teacher, educator, resident, the following are observations that I’m experiencing. My research citations include teaching in physical and virtual classrooms, hearing from students, friends and colleagues, readings from my user groups and blogs, and living on a daily basis with my own family.
The social-emotional well being of our students should be more important than academics right now.
All of us need to take a step back and focus on our health and wellness as well as the health and wellness of the kids.
2021 definitely isn’t “business as usual.” All of us need to take a step back and focus on our health and wellness and the health and wellness of the kids. This is paramount for both staff and students in the upside-down world in which we now live.
Hang in there, as it has been a long stretch to start the year. If you ever need to talk, reach out to a colleague or friend. Heck, you can even reach out to me. Thanks for reading.
* I have been told that my point of view and lens is unique as I am a resident, parent (four students in the district), administrator/teacher, husband of a district 2nd grade teacher, and “LIFER.” This district is my one and only stop, for I started right out of college and am still here 24 years later *
** Special thanks to my wife and fellow teacher, Susan, as this article was an education collaboration while brushing our teeth, having family dinners, transporting our kids to and from a myriad of activities and “talking shop” both early in the morning and late at night **