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Health & Fitness

Is It Hot Enough Yet?

What does this heat wave, a/c, and the state of education in our community have in common?

It’s hot. It’s really hot. Probably hotter than most of us can remember it being in a long time.

Although, as I sit sweltering in my refrigerant-deficient car on my way home from work, I’m thinking about all those days growing up when air conditioning was either non-existent or consisted of window units whose presence was noticed only if you could stand directly in front of the vents and let the chilled air blow across the surface of your skin.

Weather memories seem to be either really good or really bad. There is no in between. So, when our current heat wave started, I was reminded of those darned window units.

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I came from a blue collar, middle class family which meant the costs for things like a/c were always a consideration. I’d ride my bike through our neighborhood listening to the whine of the neighbor’s central a/c and wish I lived at their house!

I won’t spend time playing the “baseball, apple pie, and tough economic times” card here. But I do think that the struggles of growing up, in some cases without, made me and all those like me more appreciative when the central air conditioner was finally installed.

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I think central air is symbolic of the economic and cultural changes that take place in all our lives, and especially those that occurred in the 1960s and '70s. Seemingly small developments that were meant to affect and simplify our everyday lives have taken us into a future that would not have been easily imagined in 1965.

And I hesitate to put a value on some of the changes. We could probably have a lively discussion about the good and bad consequences that resulted. Do kids play outside less and stare at the TV more now? Are we not as “tough” as we were then and less apt to work through difficult weather? Are we able to function without the technology that seems to control as well as transform our lives? These are questions that we may or may not want to know the answers to.

I think we can all agree that life is different, whatever that might mean.

It’s important also to remember that different is not synonymous with bad. I say this as one who is usually skeptical of anything labeled as an advancement or improvement. The nostalgia of days gone by, even days growing up without a/c, can seem romantic as we look back. It’s good to remember why we have central a/c as well as better HVAC systems now. They really do make life better! We’re more productive, efficient and creative when we’re not busy trying to stay cool.

How about applying this idea to our current national debate about education? There were some things about “old school” education that were and are valuable in creating contributing members of society. But that doesn’t mean we should also discount any and all new ideas which proceed from some who we charitably refer to as professional educators.

Most educators have devoted their lives to helping kids achieve their potential. They deserve our assistance and at times our sympathy. It’s easy to paint them all as part of the problem when the solutions seem so apparent to us. But those same folks have to be part of whatever solutions we as a community eventually decide to invest in and their participation will go a long way toward ensuring that success. Parents and taxpayers have a vested interest in making sure their employees, the professional educators, buy into a system that produces successful students who reflect the values of the school districts owners.

The new school year is just around the corner, full of anxiety, challenge, and opportunity. Let’s resolve to appreciate the past, embrace the proven ideas that will take our kids to a successful future, and not let this current “weather advisory,“ keep us from staying cool.

Enjoy the heat!   

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