Education Then and Now…

Do you remember when education was actually a priority in America? New schools were popping up all over with a huge emphasis on state-of-the-art technology, comfortable classrooms, high standards for educators, and administrators who understood their purpose? There was no fudging of the attendance and performance numbers to get state and federal funding. Schools either towed the line or lose funding. There was financial incentive to perform.

I grew up in the National Capital area in the 1960s, attending 12 years of education in the Virginia and Maryland suburbs surrounding Washington. I believe most of you who read this blog page have similar memories of your formative years in school. I also believe most of you understood the rules in those days and what was expected. If your performance wasn’t up to par, there were consequences. Parents, largely absent today, were closely involved. There were always exceptions – broken homes, divorce, single parents who had to work and raise a family.

Education is different today. I am a late in life parent. We adopted our son in mid-life. He is 16. People used to migrate to California for jobs, neighborhoods, and the best schools. It was where everyone wanted to be who had grown tired of rain and snow. I live on the high desert north of Los Angeles in the sunshine wondering what has happened to education. It is appalling.

Supplies that used to be provided by the school system have to be purchased by teachers or parents. All this chatter about more money for education isn’t true and it only gets worse. Budgets have been slashed leaving little or nothing for school building maintenance and adequate teacher salaries. Facilities are in ill repair, with trash carelessly tossed and never picked up. Restrooms with graffiti on the mirrors and walls, stall doors secured with pencils because the latches are broken, and fixtures that haven’t been scrubbed in years.

This is what my son faces every day. Because he’s never known any different, he doesn’t understand my dismay with the high school he attends. Kids are allowed to vape in class and stare at their cell phones. I’ve even heard of students smoking weed in class. And we were afraid of being caught smoking cigarettes in the restrooms.

Are you kidding me? Our generation is no stranger to marijuana – but in class? I am a progressive thinker but not when it comes to education. The classroom is for learning, not socializing. Teachers are no longer permitted to maintain control in the classroom fearful of being sued by parents. There’s no such thing as a home suspension anymore because it adversely affects funding. They now have “in-school” suspension where discipline means hanging out in classroom for six hours and doing whatever you want.

Where are the consequences I ask?

Teachers are not paid what they are worth, with salaries near the poverty level. Is this what politicians mean when they speak of more money for education? They are not telling us the truth. Every election cycle it’s the same old saw. They always promise more money for schools.

It is not 1965 anymore.

I want Boomer Journey to be a nice escape to our nostalgic past. However, to understand what’s wrong with the present, we have to review the way things were done in the past. We had strict standards for education. That is not what our children and grandchildren are getting today.

It is ironic, I attended school in one of the roughest counties in Maryland. Yet, we had one of the best performing high schools in the state – with performance way above par. Our high school was clean and well maintained with a sizable custodial staff and exceptional mentors. When I look at the state of education today, it leaves me wondering what happened.

Friends – it is not 1965 anymore. However – it can be better.