What is truly needed for "School"?

As the country deals with the ramifications of the current pandemic and schools are facing new challenges, Never Waste a Crisis, I am left pondering what is needed for school to happen.

The idea of school is quit simple.  

Let's ponder some initial questions.

1. Does it have to be physical location?

         I would argue, not anymore.  We need space but not necessarily assigned classrooms.  We need places to share an experience, an experiment or an activity.

2. Where does content come from?
        Everywhere, we just need to harness.

3. Can assessments still be the measuring stick?
       Yes, but more universal and can allow students to show mastery when ready, not when class gets there.

4. Can parents be more involved?
       This a chance for parents to be the lead in helping their students learn.  By empowering parents we can help students excel.  Think in a medical example for a minute.  Doctors prescribe treatment and parents administer those treatments, whether medicine, foods or exercise.   Teachers can be much more prescriptive with parents while customizing to the needs of children.

5. Can we invest more in learning and less in schools?
       The big question...to be answered.


There will be obstacles but how do we move education forward?

Never waste a crisis, the Covid - 19 change to education.

Winston Churchill is credited with the statement, "never waste a good crisis" and we are living through a crisis  period today.

Homeschooling, virtual education and alternative ways to educate our students has been talked about forever and more fervently in the last 10 years.  Today is different from any day in the past.  We have all seen the meme's about parent's schooling their children since the pandemic has shut down schools across the country and globe.
 

These make teachers smile and feel a sense of security but we should all remember, never waste a good crisis!

School & education will look different after this historic event.  Schools, very well, might be more focused on competence and understanding versus seat time.  School budgets will reduce positions and take savings to improve technology and events for learning.  Parents will question educators more, not less, after the pandemic subsides. 

This is a great opportunity to really look at what education is, and what it should be! 

Expect more businesses to allow more flexibility in working away from the office from this moment forward.   Expect parents to see the value in spending more time with their kids. as well. 

How will we react as educators? 
How will we morph into what educators are needed to be, not what we have been?
How will we provide the support that parents don't know about?

There are lots of questions, but I think we would be foolish to think that education will ever look the same after this event. 

"Never waste a good crisis!"  Winston Churchill.