Opportunity Knocks

Are you listening?  Are you courageous enough to open the door?

So, may I tell you how excited I am for this new year to begin? I am going to anyway. Knowing that we will be getting together in person again, I am eager to explore new ways of teaching and learning to make this bad situation ...not so bad. As a matter of fact, I know it is going to make me a better teacher and allow for new ways to help me do what I love... teach kids stuff. That's what I love. Teaching kids stuff. I am excited to share this new challenge with you.

The "state" of education will change forever as a result of the Covid Crisis.  It is our duty and privilege to challenge everything we do and what we consider to be important in order to use this hardship to improve our lives.  Challenging ideas and methods does not always mean remove or change them.  Rather, it means we need to be courageous enough to look at "what we always did" with a fresh perspective. 

For example, during the late 19th century (1890's), a brand new invention was challenging the way people moved themselves and their goods.  The horse and buggy was the most efficient and effective way to transport oneself, families and products.  It worked well and served its purpose. 

However, just around the turn of the 20th century (1900's) this new, strange, smokey and loud invention called an automobile came into being.  It was self-propelled, did not need to be fed or kept warm, it did not need to have a veterinarian nearby and it was exciting!  However, it was extremely inefficient and problematic.  It looked sleek and reliable, but was totally the opposite.  Between the oil leaks ruining the engines, the wheels breaking and the tires popping, the smoke and noise from the exhaust and people not knowing how to operate them safely, they were a disaster. A complete failure!

The experts at the time argued that the automobile could never do the work of a horse and buggy.  It was foolish to pursue this idea and people should continue to do things the way we have always done it.  Most people agreed with the experts.  But not all.

Those who thought the idea of a mechanical transportation vehicle was worth pursuing endured the ridicule and taunting and set about learning from the mistakes of the early automobile versions and correct the mistakes and inefficiencies.  It took years of trial and error to make the automobile more efficient and reliable.  Many years and millions of dollars.  But, those who believed in the idea did not let the time, money and constant failure stop them.  And it paid off.  Within 30 years of its first invention, the automobile became the primary mode of transportation for thousands of people.  Within fifty years, it became the primary source of transportation for millions... within 100 years it became the primary source of transportation for billions of people around the world.

Imagine if no one was courageous enough to open the door when opportunity was knocking.