Published: March 29, 2009 12:01 am      

DODD: Peering into the crystal ball of education

I would simply like to begin this morning by reminding my readers of the final paraphrased quote from my Jan. 17, 2009, column with Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett: “Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride!”

It is with that reminder that I am going to jump headlong into what perhaps will be my most unpopular column ever in some circles. The following are predictions for our local school systems in the future. I would have one disclaimer: These are not necessarily things I would want or hope to happen, rather, what I see in the crystal ball for local education.

‘I wear a different hat today’

For many in Southern Indiana, this Bennett quote was analyzed as that he wore one hat during the campaign and another after being elected. Bennett did promise on the local campaign trail that if elected, he would waive the five Hurricane Ike days — he waived only three.

I do suspect that he found out once in office that campaigning and governing are two completely separate things. Lawmakers are trying to draft a bill that would negate Bennett’s latest edict that in coming school years, all students will be in the classroom for 180 days in addition to professional development days. Gov. Daniels will certainly veto any such attempt. Parents should be forewarned and no longer make any vacation plans in early June.

Within five to 10 years, “year-round” school will be the norm — actually a misnomer since a same relative amount of time will be spent out of class but in shorter vacation blocks spread throughout the school year. Being no longer an agrarian society, most kids aren’t needed on the farm. An American way of life that has always been is about to change forever.

Greater Clark(sville) School Corp.?

Clarksville Community Schools Corp. will be forced into merger in three to five years. Heavily in debt and with an ever-changing demographic, I don’t see the system as individually financially sustainable.

The most obvious choice would be a merger with Greater Clark. The other choice would be with West Clark. For any such merger to occur, some debt forgiveness from the state would probably have to be granted.

If that merger does occur, I would see a movement from Charlestown and New Washington communities investigating a succession from Greater Clark and a merger into West Clark.

Jeffersonville’s already extreme political influence over the system — in addition to the Clarksville political clout — certainly would put Charlestown and New Washington in a very weak negotiating power position in such an alliance. Also, potentially, New Washington and Charlestown High schools might eventually be forced to unite as a new high school under current potential initiatives by state officials.

(Un) collective Bargaining

Like the once invincible UAW, teachers’ union power will all but dissipate in five to 10 years. As one principal stated to me recently, “Why should a bad or burntout teacher be protected in the classroom simply because they pay union dues?”

The real reason that unions are going by the wayside is that even average working stiffs no longer understand a union’s purpose or think there is a need for them. Simply because 85 percent of all wages in the working world goes to 5 percent of employees (If time, I could explain some of the current financial market situation in this country regarding such greed and monetary abuse by business executives) the under-40 crowd has no use for or desire to support or belong to a union. A global economy will certainly be the final death knell for all unions. This will open the door for merit pay, school vouchers and schools competing for students.

ONE-TO-ALL

The current one-to-one initiative that has sparked controversy is the coming future for all schools. Which school is first and which is next is an irrelevant discussion. Visit a college campus and report back to me how many students are not on a laptop.

Only a person blinded by bias or void of vision would not be able to see that any viable future school campus — in 10 to 12 years — is not only paperless, but also bookless and pencil-less.

Sign up now for an education degree!

Merit pay, changes in school-year calendars, loss of union strength, lack of discipline in the classroom and an educational system overhaul will all combine to ignite one the largest early en masse educator retirement movements ever seen in the field of education. Once tenure rules are forever changed, some unprofessional and inadequate teachers will be thrown out of the classroom. Older, valuable and seasoned professionals will opt to leave voluntarily because of the overwhelming changes that are forthcoming. This mass exit will begin within the next five years.

Conclusion

The educational system in this country has moved at glacier-like speed for many years. The rest of the world has moved at lightning speed. While we are light years behind, the changes will be coming at relative warp speed during the next decade. Bennett is only an early figurehead representing the changing attitudes of what must be done for our kids to compete in a global world in the next 10 years.

Much like in the days of ancient kings who would often take out their displeasure at a foot runner who delivered an unwelcome piece of correspondence, I plead of you all not to kill the messenger.



Lindon Dodd is an Otisco resident who is a freelance writer and can be reached at lindon.dodd@hotmail.com