Rapid Change - Constant and Inevitable
By Ron Sexton
Superintendent, Wilmington City Schools
Do you ever get into one of those conversations about how “life ain’t like it used to be when I was a kid”?
My guess is you can rattle off a half dozen different examples. They’ll be different depending on your age, but they’ll illustrate how life has changed. Some of my personal favorites:
A family drive in the car on Sunday afternoon.
Never locking the door to the house.
The family dog running loose all over the neighborhood … no need for an invisible fence.
Three or four television stations seemed to provide plenty of programs to watch.
Those of us in education these days shake our heads as we think about the “dark ages” when we were in school or just beginning our careers. Even teachers who started in the last five or 10 years can identify with the rapid changes that are taking place in our schools and classrooms.
What is happening in industry and other professions is true for education – rapid change is placing new demands on the education system and forcing educators and our stakeholders – students, parents, the community -- to adapt to new circumstances.
Kindergarten was once a school year when kids learned how to get along without mom for three or four hours. They learned to tie their shoes, socialize and identify colors. Now, kindergarten is all day, everyday education. Students learn to read and write. They learn how to summarize what they read and how to write in sentences and even paragraphs. They take tests and their progress is evaluated.
I was introduced to algebra in freshman year of high school. Today, our second graders are learning the algebraic concept of “the n number.”
Developing a student’s critical thinking capability is another concept in today’s classrooms. We try to give students more choice in how to complete assignments.
Look in today’s classroom and you are not as likely to see a teacher lecturing in the front of the room. Students will be working in groups, and the teacher will move from table to table observing their work and asking questions to help them move their project along.
Computers are a staple of school life. Once a luxury or something nice to have, they are now as basic as the three-ring binder. Learning how to use the computer is no longer the challenge … learning to use the computer to find answers, solve problems, and be more productive is now the focus.
One of the most challenging and the most positive changes in education is in the area of special education. Students who once attended their own special schools are now being given greater opportunity to succeed in education’s mainstream.
Given all the change that has taken place, one thing remains constant. Schools exist to provide a quality education so students can enjoy greater opportunities.
For educators, understanding and accepting the idea that schools will be subject to increasing demands, scrutiny and accountability is not always easy, but it is a fact of life. I happen to believe this is a good thing, so long as we have the resources to get the job done. And I believe our current resources and revenue streams do allow us to get the job done in Wilmington City Schools.
A couple of weeks ago the news of former WHS graduate Josh Sams' injuries in Afghanistan and the tragic deaths of student Matt Shuttleworth and WHS graduate Olivia French stunned our District. We keep them and their families in our thoughts and prayers.
As always, I welcome your feedback, comments and questions. My telephone number is 937/382-1641, Ext. 7485. My email address is Ron.Sexton@wilmington.k12.oh.us.