The after-action reports have begun, perhaps a tad too early, but that is our wont.
I lived for 21 years in Marshfield, south of Boston, in that great mass we know east of the Route 495 wherein 85% of our population lives with a nationally recognized high per capita income.
For the last 19 years I have lived in the commonwealth’s poorest county in wealth/income per capita. Two-thirds of the landmass west of Route 495 with 15% of the population is fairly representative of the divides amongst our nation’s metropolitan areas and rural areas.
But I found a kind of great wealth when I came here. In particular, I was surprised at the number of volunteers in government, schools, fire and ambulance services. The annual school and church fairs revealed another layer of community.
I tend to look behind to see what worked socially/civically as I anticipate and work within this time of great transition. I should also note that I am a critic of centralized planning as a former school committee member, former EMT and a current Selectboard member.
That said, I am most dismayed at some of Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s recent decisions. In particular, that remote teaching is to be done. Most residents are keenly aware of our lack of full internet access. That Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will set up ‘hot spots’ so families can take their child(ren) to such spots to do their schoolwork makes my eyes cross with this additional frustration.
Any teacher, with at least five years experience, can tell their principals now who will not do the assignments and why not. As the perennial school critic I want to say as clearly as I am able, I do not want teachers in any way evaluated on their students’ performances when so much of that will depend upon circumstances beyond the teachers’ control.
Pre-COVID-19 I have suggested that each September returning students be tested to see how much they lost over the summer. In many schools it can take up to November to get students back to their prior June level. That kind of information would shock the public.
I do hope while many are re-assessing what is “essential,” that we clearly look at our overall society and its impacts on education. Additionally, schools need to re-evaluate as I, personally, do not include “a love of reading” as essential, only that a child can read and comprehend. I want multiple intelligences understood and respected. Well, there’s a lot I want in education but I will settle for a little commonsense. One size does not fit all.
I come from a long line of resourceful and creative women, none of whom ever knew wealth but each lived rich, full lives. When we citizens and officials sit down to do our own local assessment and after-action report, there will be numerous examples of how centralized planning does not work if we have lost our common sense at every level.
Marguerite Willis is a resident of Charlemont.