Do We Look For Solutions?

Do We Look For Solutions?

OPINION

Jordan and Mariah in schoolhouse at the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain, New York

I care about things—quite a change from my early life. Caring about people ended up hurting me more than not caring. But then I could see myself caring about people, and life started to hurt. Watching people go through pain is hard.  

My response was to work to make life better for others when and where I could. 

What if the world could be better for all of us? 

I know that each one of us has a part to play. What happens if we don’t play that part? 

Like many, I get concerned about the division I see in the world. But I also believe that, in large part, what divides us is a lack of communication and a willingness to resolve issues. And that is resolvable. 

Let’s be real: The current political issues and the presidential election have not helped. Add in media and social media, and you have a problem. Throw in a few opinions, and you have a fire. 

CIVIL WAR 

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There is no such thing as a “civil” war. War is not civil.

I am tired of people saying foolish things. Especially, those that understand “the power of life and death” are in your mouth. The way we repair the divide is by working together, not by continuing to divide further. 

Can we really change things? I think so. I hope so. I am willing to get down and dirty on it. I absolutely believe it.  

And each one of us plays a part. 

Complaining never resolves issues; in fact, it inflames them. Would it not be a good idea to stop complaining and do something different? 

Meeting Needs 

Over the last few years, our town has had a need, and many folks have worked to resolve it.  

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It was the need for an emergency veterinary service. I get it. My wife has a cat. 

Fortunately, we have a vet. Not everyone does. 

Someone posted that we have pizza places and car washes, so why not a vet? (Perhaps because it takes more to be a doctor than to flip pizzas.)

Recently, my medical appointments have been prolonged as there is no dermatologist, my appointment with a cardiologist is 6 months away, and even dental care is 6 months out. 

I am not worried, but both caused me to do some research. 

Let me give you some facts from some of that research. 

How many fewer veterinarians by 2030?  

15,000 is the current estimate. And with an estimated $160K in school debt, when they do graduate, they choose busier, more populated areas.   

How about a doctor shortage?  

How does a possible 120,000 fewer doctors sound? And an estimated average debt of over $200K. By 2030!

So, do we cry and accuse the younger generation of not being who we want them to be? Gosh, I hope not.  

Is there an answer? I think so. 

First, let me give you some personal thoughts. I think as parents and grandparents, we need to encourage people to be pioneers, inventors, creators, and innovators. We need to support them in loving kindness and walk with them in the direction that makes sense for them. 

I am a grandfather who grew up with a mom who was an educator. 31 years she walked out when she felt her hands were tied as a teacher.  

I love and support teachers and talk to many of them on a regular basis. I will simply say there are many policies and structures I do not agree with. (Keep in mind, this is an opinion piece, an editorial.) I told my children that when they placed their children in school, they would have to figure out how to deal with the 6-8 hours a day; they would be influenced by students and teachers.  

I “home-school” my 17-year-old grandson through online and in-person classes. I know what it takes—it requires lots of conversation. If you do not talk to kids, you will not know where they are headed.  

I am frustrated by many who were my age who denigrate those who are young.  

I want to share a few important stories. 

School removes phones 

Kindness on cell phone

The other day, I read a story about a school that removed phones. (Do you know the NEA recommends that phones be removed from children in school? And they are not high on my hit parade as a rule.) 

Do you want to know the results of that school’s practice? The students got better because they were less distracted. Grades improved, as did interactions among students and teachers. Less bullying. Less racism. More connection. 

So why do people fight so hard for the phones? 

A few years ago, I ran across an organization,  Wait Until 8th. I cannot tell you how many parents I have spoken to, whose children have been exposed to bullying, racism, and pornography. Why would you want to expedite an unfiltered bias? 

Parents go out of their way to protect their children and then hand them a cell phone. 

Please, stop! 

And for those of you in my generation, practice the words of Thumper in Bambi. “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all.” 

I read a lot of articles and stories. This was one. A principal issued a challenge to go a year in school without a fight.  

Most people laughed thinking that would never be a winning expectation. 

“One of the things I always tell them on the first day is the most important thing you are going to learn in this building is not English. It is not math. It is not science. It is not even history. It is how to get along with people,” Killingsworth said. 

And they did it! Congratulations to the class to rising to the bar of excellence.  

Life is too short to be an idiot. Take some time and think about it. And don’t go off half-cocked. 

What if we spent time working with children? Helping them? Pointing them in good directions. 

Back to that problem/challenge we have where I live.  

What if we began to point children in the direction they are going? 

Here is my thinking. 

Medical shortages 

1-To get a doctor or a veterinarian, you need a college graduate with the required education. (Like 8-10 years.) Who not only gave up their life for all those years but also a boatload of money. 

2-To enter into college for a career like this, you need to have good grades, a network of support, and solid school classes. 

3-To get through school, you need teachers who invested (This is the easiest part.), parents who will make sacrifices, and guide the student lovingly and firmly towards the goal. 

The shortages we are facing in these fields begin with the number 3, not 1. 

What if we allowed children to take aptitude tests that reveal their inclinations and provided classes that undergird the direction? I would rather have someone figure out that they don’t want to be a doctor or a businessperson in their early years than spend money on college figuring things out. (The average college student takes an average of one to two additional semesters to complete a “four-year” degree. That is on the parents, the student, and the school.) 

Many schools offer dual enrollment so that a child graduates with a High School degree AND an Associate’s degree. (They won’t tell you about that unless you ask.) 

Imagine a child learns early on that they want to consider being a doctor, a lawyer, or whatever it is that uses their aptitude to put them in an area they love. 

Years ago, I paid for an aptitude test for one of my children. The test came back with results and suggestions. My daughter wanted to pursue her thinking, only to come back to the truth of the aptitude test, and she is in that field. (She spent her first two years of college working on fields not designed for her. 😊 

Back to the veterinarian need. 

What if we gave an aptitude test and found children who had an appreciation for animals, biology, and science EARLY ON! and offered them classes that catered to that aptitude? Where would we be? 

And what if I worked with children in their given fields, providing the education that helped them become what they wanted to be? 

Students at a Paint Night with Kellyn Trapp.

Let me go a little further. What if our communities made arrangements with students to pursue their fields with a promise to pay their way so that when they completed their schooling, they committed to a period of time to the community? 

Would a person not want to remain in the community that supported them through their whole life? 

These are some of the things I think about. 

How about you? 

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