Back to School, (how) Special: "Works for Me!"

Simul-casted: As in so many of U.S. going back to work, after at least a brief pause (with the exception, of course, all those who kept stuff open, so the rest of us could enjoy our-selves) and the students among us, transition back from more informal learning opportunities, in the presence of family and friends, to what's still referred to as the "school setting" (with the exception, of course, with the still sizeable, despite the pandemic winding down, who continue their more formal education off site). In either case, a return to what's often referred to as "productivity"...

All in, the Spirit...Life Longing: That is, from the time children, almost from the time they are able to form-you-late questions...start...questioning...especially why-oh-why??? On through the times, these daze, they are told, informed..."You finally made it...just graduated...from Preschool!' When the ending is hardly in sight. I ask you, wonder my-self, are we setting them up for something...big, like a HUGE...??? And then comes, many iterations later, the more traditional grads, that just a few months ago, along with the majority of their same grade (not necessarily same chronological age by the time they get here), still bother to show up, walk across the stage in cap and gown, and shake hands with a dignitary that up till now, they had not seen in their hallways, of their school -- after which, after a brief delay (during which an assessment is made of any assessments owing...) they may actually receive their actual diploma...which in and the of itself represents various...

Degrees of Accumulation: Of learned information, much of which, as many of the students I have worked with, over the years, as an "Educational Psychologist" (under the larger umbrella of "Performance Psychology" or how to enhance performance, in any setting, domain of life...) inform me, is still, after so many years of pedagogical enhancements, continues to be of the "spoon fed" variety which, in turn, as they further enlighten me..."simply regurgitated...when the time comes for it...at exam time..." This, of course, stands in contrast to what we still seek to increase, more broadly represent via "curriculum planning" (degrees of which can be found even at the Ph.D. level) in the form of "critical thinking" -- "there's no bad questions...don't fret about getting criticized...go beyond the obvious...nothing's that simple....counter their (teacher's) intuition....don't be daunted if you don't come up with the answer right away..." Some of which may actually be represented (speaking of "daunting"!) if you ever bothered to check your child's or, in the case of many of the aspiring educators I taught as a faculty member in the College of Education...your very own...permanent file, what's commonly referred to as the "CA-60: Cumulative Record Folder" -- all kinds of interesting tid-bytes might be found, beyond the obvious...grades, test scores, etc...Some of which were brought out in class as representative of data that might be considered as the "soft" variety, which became part of a larger, animated discussion...as to who should have access to what and how long...Enter FERPA...

Setting the Record Straight: As beyond the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (protecting the privacy of student education records in both public and private schools), just one year on, came codification of a law ensuring a free and public education, regardless of student disability (IDEA), and about 22 years prior to the federal law with which we as adults, receiving any kind of health care, have become more-than-familiar (HIPPA) -- but eons after a whole lot of legislation was drafted, then passed, to protect some of the most vulnerable among us, from forced labor at a young age -- to allow them time to grow and get educated. But try and tell that to the child in Lebanon cited this morning on "World News", who had to forego, for at least the foreseeable future, a dream of becoming a teacher, one in a sizeable minority (about 10% according to UNICEF) who had to go to work rather than attend school, to assist in supporting their family, in a time of great need. Sadly simulcasted, this very morning, when so many are returning to either work or school, around here.

Next: A Return Engagement: Gearing Up, a matter of course(s) Question: what do NFL players and teachers have in common? I'll give you a day or two to come up with the answer...