Article Children on the Throne
Dr. Genevra A. Walters
Introduction Many educators worried that this global crisis would negatively affect school-age children. In fact, the overarching belief was that children would come out of the pandemic a year behind. Kankakee School District 111 found that (as we already know) in traditional schooling: some students did well and some did not. The idea of “one size does NOT fit all” was truly evident during the pandemic. Some students improved educational outcomes during the pandemic while some students struggled academically and/or emotionally. The pandemic showed us the importance of Personalized Learning Plans that include flexibility in time, location, educational experiences, and opportunities. When describing the model we are using, I use the throne as an analogy for who should be at the center of our decisions. If our decisions are driven by traditional methods of schooling then “Tradition” is on the throne. If our decisions are driven by finances, adults, or politics, then these are the issues that are at the center of how we make decisions. Therefore, these issues are sitting on the educational throne. We have also found in this pandemic the “curse of knowledge” is a major barrier to change at a time when we had no other options. 78
