What Happens Now?

So, another month is in the books and we seem to be flying, fast and furious, toward the end of the year. Yes, I know that many things will come between the dropping of the ball on New Year’s Eve and today but time flies when you are having fun. Believe it or not, school starts back this week. For those that don’t have school age children, yes, it really is that time of year. Oh, I know that we (those of us who actually remember the 80’s) didn’t go back nearly this early when we were kids but now the greater intellectual collective believes that children need more time at school to be competitive. Apparently, if summer break lasts beyond the first week in August, children can no longer remember the knowledge that they accumulated the previous school year. Perhaps, just perhaps, the problem is not in the amount of time designated for summer break but, rather, in the reality that students are not owning knowledge, they are only renting it on a short term basis.

Of course, this is also election week. If the early voting numbers are any indicator this will be a low voter turnout. I know that only one State level election is contested and I know that County wide offices that are on this ballot are not contested. But, there are still some important decisions to be made. For example, three of seven School Board members will be seated in the election. During their tenure, they will make decisions about the leadership of the Jefferson County Department of Education. Not just building programs and capital projects funding, though they are certainly important, these three Board Members will choose a Director of Jefferson County Schools, either through contract extension or via a new director . This is an important task and a strong school board is imperative. I cannot fathom why people are not turning out to cast their vote for this, and other, important positions but, so far, they haven’t. Personally, I believe that leadership is more important than a shortened summer break but maybe I am wrong. Or, maybe I am just confused. It has been a long, hot summer and I haven’t sat in a classroom in ages.

This week, if you are so inclined, it would be nice to send a little good karma the way of teachers, staff and students as they start their new year. A kind thought, a little prayer, would be a great. And, if you haven’t voted, please, please vote. Take a moment to give the candidates and issues some consideration and then vote your conscious.

We are on the back half of a year of changes and more are still to come, both locally, statewide and nationally. The ides of November will be here before you know it and then it will be turkey, jingle bells and the passing of another year. Let’s not rush so fast toward the future that we forget that what we do now, in the present, sets the stage for what will be then. The future is just the present waiting to happen. That was pretty profound considering the heat and all. Anyway, good luck and godspeed to our students, teachers and staff as they start another journey and, if you haven’t already, vote.