school transformation research questions

She spoke of the “Great Unraveling,” a time when the colonial- and industrial-era systems that never were working for those on the margins would become so dysfunctional that society would begin breaking down-and even those who seemed to benefit from the systems would suffer. It’s a perspective that brings to mind the ideas of ecologist and Buddhist thinker Joanna Macy. Maybe the pandemic would be a catalyst for educators, students, parents, and community members to come together, on behalf of children, and totally rethink education and how we could better serve all children. “It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society,” as the philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti once said.Īt the onset of the pandemic, some educators saw hope that perhaps as typical school systems were disrupted, things would never “go back to normal”-and that would be a good thing. Show love and respect to others this month

Articles that “ the kids are not OK” were followed with articles of how “ the teachers are not OK.” But what’s really not OK are the systems themselves. The mental health crisis among children that was already occurring before the pandemic is at epic proportions, with reports that up to 80% of children are now suffering from depression, anxiety, and other issues. It feels like chaos, and it isn’t just our systems that are falling apart-it’s people, too. Administrators are acting as substitute teachers, mopping floors, changing diapers…whatever it takes to simply keep the system going. On the front yard of my local elementary school, a bus is parked with a giant banner advertising the desperate need for bus drivers, a dramatic display of the labor shortage throughout America. Orderly school board meetings are interrupted with heckles and protests around issues like masking and vaccination, reflecting raging culture wars. I recently visited several middle schools that only have porta-potties after students vandalized bathrooms at the start of the school year, spurred by a destructive social media campaign. Our regional educational school district, after moving locations, hasn’t had office furniture all year, due to the shipping crisis.

There are examples on almost every level.

School transformation research questions