Month: June 2021

Another school year has come to an end. Students in Gr.12 are leaving their schools for the last time. It’s been along time since I graduated, 1990, but I still remember the feelings of uncertainty, confusion, and unease towards the future. For over 12 years students are forced to attend K-12 schools and then we release them into the real world. We try and get them registered to a post-secondary school, trade school, etc but many students leave not knowing what the future will entail.

The world is a far more complicated, expensive, and confusing place than the world 20-30 years. The price of homes, food, etc has skyrocketed, the cost of post-secondary has risen exponentially, and competition for jobs is intense in most professions. Kids need to navigate a world that is tough, confusing, and very challenging. Do schools prepare students properly for this world? Schools educate just like schools did 30-40 years ago but the world is changing a lot quicker and is far more challenging to navigate than previous generations.

What could schools do to better students? More work experience opportunities, more hands-on experiences that lead to real-world experiences and knowledge, more connections with professionals and workers outside of school, and maybe more flexible scheduling so students could try out these new opportunities. These are just some ideas. As I talked to students the last couple weeks many of the Gr. 12’s had no idea what they were going to do. They graduated, had a transcript with some grades, and a diploma but they had no real-world experience, no opportunities to jump right into work, and no opportunities to instantly jump into work-education professions.

Gr.12 is an exciting year for kids but it is also a scary year with a lot of apprehension and uncertainty. It’s fun to see the kids leave school excited about graduating and many of them have plans to travel, to continue schooling, etc. But many leave lost with no sense of direction. Do we not owe them more than a mere diploma? Something to ponder over . Congrats to all the Grads of 2021 and good luck in the future. My piece of advice is go see the world, travel, meet people, try different food, etc. This is the best eduction you’ll ever get.

What are the important things in life? This question has been running through my head lately. I’m almost 50 years old and usually at this point of your life you look at where you are, where you’ve come, and where you are heading. I’m not saying I’m going through a mid-life crisis but I’m reflecting on my life, how its going, my future goals and aspirations, etc. A few days back I was having a conversation with someone and we were discussing my career, etc. With limited Principal positions coming up in the district I work the suggestion came. up that I look outside of my district if I want to further my career and find a Principal position. I immediately said that I was not looking to move districts to find a Principal position as this would take away from my family time. Anyone that lives in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia knows the traffic gridlock and mayhem on the #1 Highway during the peak hours. At this point of my life I already work 9-10 hours per day. My time, especially the time with any family, is valuable. Too valuable to be sitting in traffic.

Its been about 3-4 days since this conversation and I still hold true to this statement. I believe our time on this earth is short and we need to prioritize what is important to us.  Would I prioritize work and future promotion over my family? The answer to the question is no.  Anytime an administrator retires some of the things they always say are – spend more time with your family, go home at a reasonable hour, don’t stress too much, etc. At this point of their lives they truly understand that everyone is replaceable and someone will easily fill your shoes and life at your school will continue on without you. Life is like that as well. I think it’s important that we prioritize what is important to us.

My father passed away in March due to COVID. For years I would meet him after work and we would go for coffee at Tim’s. Sometimes we hardly had much to talk about and we just commented on things like cars going by on the road, etc. But these were special moments as we were together. In the last year or so we didn’t have these meetings due to my work hours and I regret putting work over family. I think we all have to reflect on what is important to us in our lives as our time on this planet is short and we will soon be a mere memory to the people that were important to us. But these memories are what will be remembered. The moments that create these memories should be the most important things in our lives. Let’s try and leave that last email or voice message for the next day. Go home…be with your friends and family, talk to your neighbour, do something nice. These things are the most important things in life.

 

The COVID pandemic has been a shadow of dread, uncertainty, and fear for the last year and a half. Thousands of people have died, many have recovered,  and the effects of COVID will be felt for years to come. The world seemed to be descending into chaos as people were scared, confused, and uncertain when the pandemic would end. The pandemic has become an important moment in time which people will look back on, and study how we survived this world-wide event. It will also be looked back on and compared to events such as the Spanish Flu pandemic, World War I and II, and other world-wide events. With the end of the pandemic in sight many people are wondering what the world will look like after. Governments have spent billions of dollars, people have lost their jobs and homes, and many countless people have been affected and will be affected by the COVID virus for years to come. COVID has also dramatically affected the lives of children throughout the world. Their education, their sports, their relationships, their sense of normalcy, etc have been altered and affected in ways we will never understand.
With the pandemic coming to an end the lives of children will start to recover and a sense of normalcy will come upon them and their lives. Education is a huge part of every child’s life and many people were hoping to see education transform and change due to the COVID virus and the effect it had on education systems throughout the world. But will it? Or has its revealed that the current educational system and schools work and are vitals  part of the community they reside in and to the lives of every child that attend them. Prior to the COVID pandemic many people lauded online learning as the future of education. Would students be better educated through an online platform?  If students weren’t hamstrung by the current schooling system – limited course selection, rigid timetables, etc maybe education could meet every child where they are and allow them to prosper and flourish. The pandemic seems to have eradicated this notion. Why? The educational setting, the school, is not just a place where students learn the ABC’s. The pandemic has proven it to be a place where students learn academics, learn music, etc, it’s a place where they play sports, instruments, and engage in numerous social interactions a day. Its also a place which teaches them structure, rules, and a sense of responsibility. Students also have the opportunity to make meaningful and lifelong relationships with other students, staff, etc. On a daily basis students are supported, guided, and assisted by numerous adults within the schools. Schools are not just a place of ABC’s it’s a place of growth, nourishment, caring, love, and support. The pandemic has proven that schools might be one of the most important institutions within our communities and within our society.