Planting Acorns...

A man I admire, Mark Scharenbroich, uses the analogy of planting acorns to describe the role teachers and parents have in the lives of young people. With care and nurturing, the acorn will grow into a sturdy oak that will outlive the planter by several lifetimes, and be a lasting testament to the care invested in its growth. In today's world of immediate gratification, the frustrating problem for some is that we may not see the payoff on the investment in the futures of our young people for many years. A sturdy, healthy oak takes decades to develop.

I'm constantly reminded that while we work every day on student achievement, instruction and delivery, and measurable outcomes for students, some of the most important outcomes will not be measurable, and not evident, for many, many years. As I have advanced in my career (some would say advanced in years...), it has become more and more apparent that the role educators play in shaping people is far more important than the role we play in teaching grammar and mathematics.

For years education has struggled to attract the best and the brightest to our profession. The pay is relatively low compared to jobs that require commensurate training. The status of educators in American society is probably at an all time low as American education is attacked from every angle. Nevertheless, somehow, we are still able to count among our professional educators people who care about more than comma splices and quadratic equations. Every day our teachers are invested in the whole child - their successes are our successes, their failures our failures.

Education and education funding is a hot topic in Michigan. This is not a political blog, yet I urge anyone reading to recognize the critical juncture we have reached in Michigan. With the loss of industrial and manufacturing jobs, educating young people to be creative solution finders with the capacity to think their way to a living has never been more critical.

I question whether the problem lies in the schools, or in our approach to them. Are teachers valued appropriately? Are schools valued to the degree we value businesses and infrastructure? The unquestionable truth is that the future of our state and nation depends on how many acorns are cultivated into strong long-lasting oaks in schools and homes. Now is a time for all to be invested in the education of our youth as the critical issue before us.