Challenging today’s education crisis and the Digital Media ecosystem.
Inspired by Humane Educators Everywhere and The Center for Humane Technology
As long time Digital Media Exec, current English Studies and Communications graduate student, and aspiring future educator, my goal is to help re-envision our education system and the Digital Media ecosystem simultaneously. I think we can all agree both are BROKEN and have caused immeasurable harm to our children.
How did we get here? And how do we fix it?
I think we all know how we got here but fixing it is the difficult part.
These two existential-Esque questions require somewhat long-winded answers. There is so much to say about each, but I will begin with Digital Media, as it’s the perfect segway into the challenging educational crisis today.
The big expose and not so proud moment. I’ve been in Digital Media for 26 years and can tell you first hand that it’s eroded us as a society, especially our young children and teens.
Throughout my career in Digital, I’ve seen and heard enough to call it quits finally. There are days that I sit behind my desk and today’s virtual boardroom discussing how our company can further sophisticate the technology and algorithms that follow you around the web, gather your personal data, and then sell it to advertisers. That’s it. That’s what I do. And, I quit. Soon. More to come in a future post.
Next, the state of education. What can we say? It’s horribly broken, and this past year we’ve seen it flop on its head. Teachers, young and old, have quit their jobs and their students simply because they weren’t willing to give Zoom a chance or willing even to try. They’ve left our kids in the dust by retiring early and cashing out their pensions or leaving to work for another company that pays more to work online. Who’s left? The superheroes. Good riddance to the others.
These superheroes are trailblazers paving the way for the future of education, an education that raises the bar on humanity. No more Common Core, standardized testing, or teaching out of the traditional textbook of the past. Rather, rising to the occasion and going above and beyond to make sure every child in their classroom is connected, engaged, and mentally well via Zoom and Google Classroom. Albeit virtual, this is more important than ever. These superheroes are re-envisioning and re-creating education one Google Classroom at a time. They innovate, pivot, and, most importantly, explore new methods of teaching by the minute. It’s a think tank of teachers looking to drive change. Not to mention they’re getting our kids to laugh and smile during historically trying times (So important).
These teachers have no choice but to get creative, and they’re embracing it. Silver linings. They’re teaching our children invaluable lessons that would have never be taught pre-pandemic. They’re dedicated and invigorated to teach our kids to explore the world around them, even if it means traveling to the kitchen searching for the measuring cups to learn fractions. Or better yet, teaching kids science by getting them outside, away from screens and the classroom. Rather push them out-the-back-door to the yard, balcony, or rooftop, rain or shine (both are important) to look, feel, and smell the flowers, observe bugs to see what they’re up to, and even learn weather patterns by watching the actual weather; not learning about lightening in a textbook when it's storming outside. Genius. Insert a bit of sarcasm here.
The most awe-inspiring thing I’ve noticed is children’s sudden curiosity in government, politics, elections, social injustice, and racial inequality. This is what happens when the world around you is rapidly changing, and you’re not sitting in a confined classroom being taught how to take a test (Common Core Sucks). They are part of the evolution of things. They’re paying attention. Why? They’re in it. Literally and physically.
Now more about these crazy awesome kids of 2020 and 2021. Through one of the most unprecedented socially and politically heated years in history and a global pandemic to boot, we’ve unknowingly created a new generation of what The Center for Humane Education calls “Solutionaries.” This new generation of spirited kids are defined as those who identify inhumane, unsustainable, and unjust systems and then develop solutions that are healthy and equitable for people, animals, and the environment. We’ve all seen a bit of this lately. If you start to pay close attention, we see slight or even major changes in our children’s attitudes and behaviors. Listen to their conversations, observe what they’re watching (online and off), what music they’re listening to, what groups they are actively involved in on Social Media. It says a lot about how in-tune and involved these kids are in the world around them, good or bad. It’s all subjective at the moment.
Personally, I’ve seen kids care about one another more today than a year and a half ago. Bullying has subsided, class and racial judgment towards one another seems to have lost a bit of steam, and they’re talking to one another now more than ever, even if it’s through Facetime. I’ve been thinking about this since the beginning of COVID; how are people becoming so close to one another when we’re supposed to physically separate? This is an adult question, but I can tell you firsthand that kids have already moved forward.
Our youth knows that a pandemic won’t be around forever, but next time around, they’ve “got it,” and they’ll be ready, with an actual plan of action and some pre-formulated ideas and solutions to solve for the next round of unforeseens.
These broken systems are happening for a reason. Something needs to break to fix it. Today’s resilient youth are actively trying to figure things out and think about ways they can change our world for the better. They are not afraid to ask questions and boldly express their opinions, even if their source of information comes from TikTok. At least it’s got them talking. Maybe a silver lining? It’s subjective.
To end this bit of a rant, I want to lift us up. There is a very bright future on the other side. A future we can’t quite picture yet. But when it happens, lookout. Our kids are gonna kick some ass.
Some terminology to help navigate this conversation
Humane Education
Noun: a person who identifies inhumane, unsustainable, and unjust systems and then develops solutions that are healthy and equitable for people, animals, and the environment.
Adjective: pertaining to or characterized by solving problems in a strategic, systemic way that does the most good and least harm to people, animals, and the environment.
Humane Technology: Reimagining the digital infrastructure. Its mission is to drive a comprehensive shift toward humane technology that supports the collective well-being, democracy, and shared information environment.
Another lift me up — This year’s pandemic has destroyed lives, mental health, work, elections, and education. It’s been interesting to watch everyone pivot their outside lives indoors, not knowing if and when it’s safe to go back outside. We’ve learned to adapt. However, some successfully and some horribly. There doesn’t seem to be a middle. However, this devasting time in history has taught us many lessons. Silver linings.
We’ve learned to be more empathetic towards one another.
We’ve learned how to give grace without reservation or judgment.
We’ve learned to become better spouses, parents, and friends.
We’ve become more flexible in the workplace.
We’ve learned things NEED to change.
The PRESENT
As I write this, I’m in my second semester of grad school, trying to overachieve and get this done sooner than later. I’m one of those aspiring superheroes and am a very “now” kind of person, always 3 steps ahead of the game. Why? We’re at a pivotal moment in time. I’ve seen teachers, young and old, quit their teaching career and their students not wanting to embrace the technology available to help get our kids through this pretty awful time. It saddens me and keeps me up at night.
Switching gears at my age is hard. I’m trying to get out, by staying in, and by staying in, I’m mean trying to get out. Right? Let me explain.
First, my ethically questionable job is paying for my education to help educate kids on not becoming me. Sigh. A means to an end. Don’t judge.
I’m working toward my MA in English Studies and Communications, maybe even a Ph.D. Who knows? English and communications are a beautiful marriage for someone like me. I love, love, love literature, and have the chops to talk communications all day long. The goal is to get my degree and teach. What? Time will only tell. Today, it’s English, but tomorrow might be different. All I know is that I want to be there to help kids find themselves and their place in the world. I want to help them figure out their future path. I believe that the humanities can steer almost any student towards what they want to do. The Humanities lay the foundation to becoming a decent human being, exploring the world around you, and studying the great thinkers of the past and present — how they’ve changed the course of humankind one great thought at a time. And, great communication skills will get any person far. I really believe that. History proves it.
I was lucky enough to meet Malala Yousafzai during my career, again silver linings, and she has been an inspiration to me throughout the last decade of my career and the catalyst for my decision to join the ranks of “Solutionaries.”
