School of Thought

Over the first two months of 2018 I have visited all five school in Ward 2 because I feel that a good education is critical to success in life.  Those schools include Arbor Elementary, Chardon Hills Elementary, Euclid Preparatory, Noble Academy and Pinnacle Academy.

When you look at many of the issues that confront society today like unemployment, crime, over-filled prisons and homelessness to name a few, I think you would agree with me that a quality education is a necessity.

I realize that discussions on education are often contentious and political. There are many issues to be sure:  school funding, charter versus public districts, unfunded mandates, accountability, etc. I am not trying to solve any of those issues. What I would like to do is share my observations with you. 

I can tell you without a doubt that all of the schools provide many more services to families than they did when I was a child or even when my children went to school.  Schools are expected to do much more than educate children as though educating wasn’t difficult enough.  Today’s teachers are instructors, coaches, comforters, encouragers, disciplinarians, nurses, social workers and the list goes on and on.  They genuinely care about their students and want them to succeed.

Having said that, the principals that I met are proud of their staff and the efforts that they are making with their students.  As we walked through the schools, I could see that they knew many of their students by name.   The principals  that I met are working extremely hard to help their teachers and students succeed.

The teachers I encountered in the hallways and classrooms were friendly and welcoming.  The students were engaged in their lessons and the teachers encouraged good manners and corrected students as necessary.  I was enthusiastically greeted by students and for the most part found the classrooms to be neat, cheerful rooms that encouraged learning.

Everyone in the schools that I met subscribed to the notion that it takes a village to raise a child.  The schools are attempting to create that village of caring people.  If you have the time to get involved, please do so.  Each school is unique and offers unique opportunities for involvement from tutoring to drama, sports to music and arts. 

If you’re curious about what is going on behind those school doors, take a tour like I did.  Leave the politics at the door and just see what’s happening.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Brian Moore

Vice President of Moore Counseling and Mediation Services, Inc., Councilman for Euclid Ward 2 and Associate Minister at Lake Shore Christian Church

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Volume 9, Issue 3, Posted 11:09 AM, 03.10.2018