…what are some positive outcomes we’ve learned from 2020? (Part 1)

That’s a good question. We all know it’s been a tremedously challenging year on all fronts. Yet, in my prayer time the other morning I realized there are a few unexpected benefits from 2020, so far.

In no particular order, the glaring spotlight has been cast on:

• education
• health care
• the economy
• how lack of quality internet services creates a barrier for home education online or working from home
• personal relationships
• America and her citizens
• personal responsibility for personal decisions
• every elected official from Washington D.C. to the smallest towns.

EDUCATION: Pre-COVID days we woke our kids up, sent them to school, went off to work, and we all returned home later. Whenever later happened to be. Kids had sports, music lessons, play dates, cheering, baton, karate, and dozens of other activities to cram pack their days. Parents worked, juggled housework, childcare, brought work home, had their own extracurricular activities, girls night out, boys night out, golfing, shopping, visiting the inlaws or the parents, and some of us, church. School was someone else’s responsibility.

Then COVID hit like a tidal wave and schools closed. Businessess closed, stores and restaurants closed. Toilet paper flew off the shelves like dry leaves in a tornado. You still can’t get disinfectant spray in many parts of the country. Prices went up. Service went down. Essential employees didn’t like being essential and non-essential staff didn’t know whether to be rejoicing or complaining. Add into the mix that everybody was forced to partake in virtual learning.

No one was prepared. Not the school systems and not the parents. Certainly not the kids. But in the new way of doing things some positive outcomes have come forth.

• People are seeing way more thoroughly exactly what their children are being taught from the earliest of ages and who is doing the teaching.
• Parents are developing a new respect for their kids teachers and other school staff.
• Teachers are seeing a bit deeper into the home life of their students.
• Creativity is higher on the list of how to get the job done while still providing a quality education.
• Maybe for the first time parents are learning that teachers are teaching more than math to their students, they’re teaching personal beliefs regarding politics, religion, parents, and what to think, say and do to be “woke”. Whatever happened to if it doesn’t pertain to the assigned cirrculum then don’t discuss it in the classroom. Wasn’t that a big thing in no longer allowing teachers or schools to pray to God, discuss faith based items with any student, including the ones who ask you outside of class? Chokehold God but not on Marxism?
• Many of these same ‘teachers” are asking parents not to watch online lessons and discussions but parents are watching and learning anyway.
• Public education will absolutely never be the same again. Ever.

LACK OF INTERNET ACCESS CREATES UNNECESSARY BARRIERS TO EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT:

Here in our rural location we’ve long wrestled with lousy internet service. We pay premium costs for internet so slow that we can’t hold a connection to watch a movie, download software, receive/send timely email, attend a Zoom or other online meeting. Thankfully, our daughter has graduated and we’re not having to deal with the barrier to her getting her education.

This barrier has long been known, just unaddressed by government decision makers. They aren’t having to deal with it so it doesn’t matter to them. Now though, with both education and the economy being handicapped by lousy internet connections, the spotlight is forcing the issue to the forefront. They can send out all the free vouchers they want to cover the cost of internet services for students, it doesn’t resolve the issue of the quality of that service.

That’s two of the catergories where there have been positive outcomes already. Keep reading for future posts that discuss the others.

—-Donna