We went to yoga in Ardmore this morning; the class was filled with Main Line matrons. In the post-class scramble for boots and shoes and coats, we found ourselves in conversation with one. She revealed that she had herself formerly worked in education, as an administrator for turnaround schools in Philadelphia. She ultimately left after realizing that the problems in the public schools were far too deeply rooted in the system for her role to be effective. ”I have a great respect for teachers and the people who stay in the profession,” she said as she laced up her boots. ”Some people just get burnt out. The demands on teachers are just so different these days, and people have so many opinions on what kids need to be learning.”
We mentioned it was controversial.
“Oh, it’s very controversial,” she said, lacing up the other boot. ”You know, I think kids need to be educated on systems, and how they work, and how to look at a system analytically and break it down, and then build it back up again. That’s everything about how our world works. And ethics. Kids need to learn ethics—not religion, per se, but ethics. How to make a decision. How to decide what is the right decision in a given circumstance.” She stood up, and added, “I think about 75% of our adults could benefit from a crash course in ethics, if you ask me. I think our world would be significantly different.”
There was more conversation, of course—of the school culture in Lower Merion’s public schools, and how it compared to other schools in the Main Line, and which brands made the best winter boots, and so on. But it’s really only that line which got me thinking about how there are wonderful people everywhere you go, and what a life you would lead if you made an effort to seek them out every day.
