Dreaming...

On the heals of the anniversary of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech, I got to thinking about some of my own dreams and wishes.  As an educator, everywhere I go I hear things about the state of public education - or actually, education in general.  It occurred to me that the resounding common thread is the comment, "Well, when I was in school....".  Hmmm, what about it?  I know everyone has probably heard someone say those words, and many - even myself- have uttered the same.  So, what we really ought to do is examine the differences between "when I was in school" before government oppressed us with their divide-and-conquer approach, and school as we know it today.
WELL, I'll bet when you were in school you knew most of the kids in your class because they were from the neighborhood.  I'll bet most of the parents of kids in your class knew you - even if you didn't quite know them.  I'll bet kids rode the bus to and from school - even if they were in high school and knew how to drive a car.  I'll bet that your parents attended an occasional PTA meeting to be involved in their children's educational experiences.  I'll bet you were responsible (OH!  there's a good word) for supplying your own paper and pencils for class.  I'll bet, also, that your parents attended sporting events that you were involved in - whether or not you played a minute or a game - and that they even attended if you weren't involved because they wanted to watch the neighbor kid play - or sit the bench.  :)  I will bet that if you got into trouble at school you got into double trouble at home. 
I could probably go on, and on, but why?  I truly think everyone already knows that the differences between when WE were in school and now is entirely up to them.  It's all about choices....it always has been.

So, what are my dreams?  I would love to see that sense of community pride back in our schools.  I would love to see a healthy cross-town rivalry and not a cut-throat my-school-it-better-than-yours mentality; especially when "your school" has only been "yours" for two weeks and before that it was here and there and everywhere else!  ....  I dream of the same things Martin Luther King, Jr. did.  
What's important to me?  Family.  Harmony.  Community.  Responsibility.  Respect.  Dreams and Hopes that may come true....
What's your dream?