Back to school a time of opportunity
Driving to work past several school buildings reminds me that a new opportunity is available for youth.
As I drive by the buildings, I remember my own childhood, when school provided opportunities to make new friends and renew old friendships. Classes were structured so that teachers were to be treated with respect, and we kids, while ornery at times, knew that a day of reckoning would come at the hands of our parents if we went too far.
An informal checks-and-balances system worked in my era, and in rural schools, we could get a good variety of courses to make ourselves better citizens and prepare us for successful college careers. The classroom culture was a blessing.
Today, far removed from the situation, I listen to how my coworkers maneuver through the school system as they want the best for their children. Any school administrator or teacher today will say the challenges to learning are much more difficult because of many factors, including socioeconomic issues, peer pressure, availability of supplies and lack of parental support. As a patron and taxpayer, I have a duty to back fellow parents, teachers, coaches and administrators, just as my parents did for me.
Under Kansas House Bill 2299, signed by Gov. Laura Kelly earlier this year, beginning this school year, K-12 students in public and accredited private schools in effect bans cell phones during the school day. The measure prohibits student access to and use of personal electronic communication devices (including cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, and wireless earbuds) during the entire school day, from the first bell to dismissal. There are a few exceptions included for special needs and other situations.
The intent is to minimize disruptions, particularly from social media influences, that can be detrimental to classroom decor, as discipline is necessary for learning. A retired school administrator once told me five years ago that cellphones were the biggest impediment to student learning. I told him I remembered the days when my parents would leave a message with the school secretary for me to pick up something from the store. He chuckled and said the same.
It will be interesting to see how this law works and what tweaks, if any, might be needed for future school years.
August is a time of great anticipation that can be felt by new teachers and returning students. A core belief of mine is that kids want to learn, and teachers and classmates should not have to put up with a student who does not want to learn. Education is a gift paid for either by taxpayers in the case of public schools or by donations and tithing in the case of private schools.
The gift of a teacher who can reach a kid who may struggle in a classroom but winds up becoming a success is a timeless story. Education has transformed the High Plains and the United States and is not an opportunity that should be lost.
While unanticipated challenges will always be part of the equation, I believe the educational system can unlock doors.
Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or [email protected].
