Posted on Dec 1, 2022
School principals say culture wars made last year 'rough as hell'
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https://www.npr.org/2022/12/01/ [login to see] /schools-democracy-misinformation-purple-state
"Rough as hell."
That's how one high school principal in Nevada describes the 2021-'22 school year, when conflicts with parents and community members were all too common.
"Something needs to change or else we will all quit," says another principal, in California.
Those voices are part of a new, nationally representative survey of 682 public high school principals, many of whom describe a level of tension and division within their broader school communities that is not only high but, in the words of one Utah principal, making the job harder "than any other era in my 20 years of administrative experience."
John Rogers, a professor of education at UCLA, helped lead the survey effort and says, while an earlier, 2018 survey of principals revealed conflicts spilling into schools, "what's different in 2022 is that a lot of the political conflict is being targeted at public schools," especially in narrowly divided "purple" districts.
"Rough as hell."
That's how one high school principal in Nevada describes the 2021-'22 school year, when conflicts with parents and community members were all too common.
"Something needs to change or else we will all quit," says another principal, in California.
Those voices are part of a new, nationally representative survey of 682 public high school principals, many of whom describe a level of tension and division within their broader school communities that is not only high but, in the words of one Utah principal, making the job harder "than any other era in my 20 years of administrative experience."
John Rogers, a professor of education at UCLA, helped lead the survey effort and says, while an earlier, 2018 survey of principals revealed conflicts spilling into schools, "what's different in 2022 is that a lot of the political conflict is being targeted at public schools," especially in narrowly divided "purple" districts.
School principals say culture wars made last year 'rough as hell'
Posted from npr.org
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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MSG Stan Hutchison
SGT Gerald “Jerry” Harrell - Thank you for your polite response.
I would like to break it down some. Let's start with "which include those that want to erase history."
I am unsure of this. I have seen no attempt to do this in our public schools.
Do you have any examples?
I would like to break it down some. Let's start with "which include those that want to erase history."
I am unsure of this. I have seen no attempt to do this in our public schools.
Do you have any examples?
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SGT Gerald “Jerry” Harrell
You can’t fairly label someone from 200 yrs ago based on today’s standards. Building a nation is like walking up stairs, we elevate the nation with each step we take up and forward and only look back to see how far we have come (and in some cases where we never want to go again.) The push in public and private schools to tear down statues and relabel our founding fathers and blame all that is divisive on where we came from. This divisiveness now is a much more recent manifestation and is promulgated by the opinions of SOME of those in education.
They didn’t always get it right, but they weren’t always wrong. In most cases, they did the best they could with what they had and knew. The building of this nation was a journey. It was built off the decisions of those that came before us. With each generation we, Americans, try to make it better based on the knowledge we have, and the context of the time we live in.
We have to stop the madness and go back to the basics, that include physical activity for health and sportsmanship. As Vetrans, we all should know that we are unstoppable when we come together as Americans.
They didn’t always get it right, but they weren’t always wrong. In most cases, they did the best they could with what they had and knew. The building of this nation was a journey. It was built off the decisions of those that came before us. With each generation we, Americans, try to make it better based on the knowledge we have, and the context of the time we live in.
We have to stop the madness and go back to the basics, that include physical activity for health and sportsmanship. As Vetrans, we all should know that we are unstoppable when we come together as Americans.
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MSG Stan Hutchison
SGT Gerald “Jerry” Harrell - You mentioned the tearing down of statues. I think the only statues torn down were of men that took up arms against the United States. They were not patriots; they were traitors to the Union and should never have been memorialized. Tearing down those statues did nothing to change our history, in fact just the opposite. It brought the Civil War history back into our national conversation. Additionally, most of those statues were not of our founders.
You posted: "only look back to see how far we have come (and in some cases where we never want to go again.)" The second part of this line is the important, those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it.
Finally, you posted: "This divisiveness now is a much more recent manifestation
" I must once again disagree. Our divisiveness has always been with us. It was only recently that it has been brought to more public discussion.
Thanks. Have a great day
You posted: "only look back to see how far we have come (and in some cases where we never want to go again.)" The second part of this line is the important, those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it.
Finally, you posted: "This divisiveness now is a much more recent manifestation
" I must once again disagree. Our divisiveness has always been with us. It was only recently that it has been brought to more public discussion.
Thanks. Have a great day
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SGT Gerald “Jerry” Harrell
MSG Stan Hutchison now that was a good discussion. Thank you. My mind went to the recent strife over Lincoln’s and Jefferson’s statue. The confederate statues are a reminder of what we got wrong…that we both agree on. The violent divisive behavior that burns down businesses or vandalizes organizations that have a different belief…. That is more recent.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
...""Rough as hell."
That's how one high school principal in Nevada describes the 2021-'22 school year, when conflicts with parents and community members were all too common.
"Something needs to change or else we will all quit," says another principal, in California.
Those voices are part of a new, nationally representative survey of 682 public high school principals, many of whom describe a level of tension and division within their broader school communities that is not only high but, in the words of one Utah principal, making the job harder "than any other era in my 20 years of administrative experience."
John Rogers, a professor of education at UCLA, helped lead the survey effort and says, while an earlier, 2018 survey of principals revealed conflicts spilling into schools, "what's different in 2022 is that a lot of the political conflict is being targeted at public schools," especially in narrowly divided "purple" districts."
...""Rough as hell."
That's how one high school principal in Nevada describes the 2021-'22 school year, when conflicts with parents and community members were all too common.
"Something needs to change or else we will all quit," says another principal, in California.
Those voices are part of a new, nationally representative survey of 682 public high school principals, many of whom describe a level of tension and division within their broader school communities that is not only high but, in the words of one Utah principal, making the job harder "than any other era in my 20 years of administrative experience."
John Rogers, a professor of education at UCLA, helped lead the survey effort and says, while an earlier, 2018 survey of principals revealed conflicts spilling into schools, "what's different in 2022 is that a lot of the political conflict is being targeted at public schools," especially in narrowly divided "purple" districts."
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I think this important to understand! Our educational models are not exactly rocket science! Common core has also not been always adopted! Edu action is ery important, but seems to face many challenges in a changing society!
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