Dr. Strickland's Blog

School Version 2.0 – American Education Week


Last week was American Education Week, a time for celebrating the important work that our teachers and administrators carry out everyday. Education as we have all witnessed in our lifetimes, has changed a great deal. The demands placed on teachers and administrators have also changed, and continue to transform today; to be sure the future will bring about more change.

Our website has an archive section (http://www.columbus.k12.nc.us/archives.htm) that shows images of the past and includes a concise history of education in Columbus County from 1808 to 1977 (we are in the process of recording the history from 1977 to present). It is amazing to see the schools and educators from fifty, sixty or even a hundred years ago, striving to do then what we are still striving to do today: improve the quality of life of children through education.

In the early 1900’s, schools were heated by wood stoves, the “curriculum” consisted of mostly rote recitation with all grades in one or two rooms, and farmers were contracted to bring students to school on flatbed trailers, rain or shine! Teachers typically were unmarried with little home responsibilities, and the school year lasted around six months. There were no standardized tests, students were given the three R’s, and the focus was quite honestly on creating functioning citizens. A high school diploma was not commonplace, and most students achieved 6th grade educations at best. Principals during this time were typically father figures who were responsible for punishments and handing out pay and the like, but did not necessarily get involved in the day to day functioning of the classroom.
Fast forward to today, and the differences are mind-blowing. The vast majority of our students take EOC or EOG exams once or twice a year. Teachers (and principals) are held accountable for a vast array of test scores, are responsible for continuous professional growth through staff development and courses, deal with mountains of paperwork on a daily basis, and also must find ways to teach material many different ways in order to accommodate the different learning styles that have emerged. Teacher assistants can no longer sit at a desk and grade papers like they did a few decades ago, but must engage students in learning to the same degree the classroom teacher is engaging the students. At the end of day the majority of our teachers also go home to a family where they, in a sense, start their “second day”. Principals are no longer just the “head of the school” but rather function as the instructional leader. Principals are engaged WITH teachers in developing new ideas , and strategies- not just pointing out what is wrong. Principals have their primary focus on the quality of instruction, not just discipline. At the end of the day, they too go home, unless there is a ball game, or performance or an after-school activity. On my way home or out of town, I always see cars in the parking lot of our schools well after the final bell, as I do early in the morning before the first bell, often before first light. In my classroom walkthroughs I have observed over and over the great concern that all of our staff have for each aspect of their student’s lives. It is true that teachers and principals were dedicated in the early part of the last century, but in today’s society, we know so much more, not only about the world, but about how children learn- and I am awe-struck by how well our teachers, administrators and support staff adapt to the many changes that have and are taking place.

In this week of Thanksgiving, I guess our thoughts always turn toward reflection and thoughts of gratitude. Among the many blessings that our county shares are the men and women who enter our schools every day. They are the most important part of our school system, and are among the most important people in our children’s lives. Thanks for listening; I welcome your comments.