The experience changed my life and set my philosophy about public education. In the intervening 37 years, I have journeyed from teacher to Air Force officer to high school principal to superintendent. Assassinations, Vietnam, Watergate, Reaganomics and Clinton Prosperity have happened. Schools have changed some. But kids have changed more.
Computers are everywhere now.
New programs such as gifted education, bilingual education and kindergarten have evolved. But schools are still characterized by 3Rs, lectures, drills and spelling tests. Contrast changes in education to changes among youth. Advertising, the Internet and celebrities heavily influence them. The result has been a declining influence by the family, the church and the school.