Executive Viewpoint

WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?

Dr. Mike Hernandez, AAEA Executive Director

Ready to feel old? I was listening to the radio this morning and they were talking about how we are getting ready to start the year 2025. 2025?!? What?!? It seems like we should have artificial intelligence, self-driving cars, and Snoop Dogg should be the ambassador of all things America. Oh, wait…Ok now to the old part. I thought in this article we would take a look back to 25 years ago to remember what was going on in education both in Arkansas and nationally.

In June 2000, the Arkansas State Board Members were Luke Gordy, Chairman; Richard Smith; ViceChairman; JoNell Caldwell; Claiborne Deming; William Fisher; Robert Hackler; Shelby Hillman; Betty Pickett, Lewis Thompson, Jr, and Anita Yates. The board and Commissioner Ray Simon discussed a program called Smart Start. In December of 2000, the SBE approved an extension of the contract to administer the Stanford 9 test due to the Stanford 10 not being available. Legislation at the time allowed districts to vote on whether to participate in school choice. About 50% participated in school choice at the time. The SBE was the approval mechanism for charter applications due to the Charter Authorizing Panel not being in place.

Numerous awards were given across our state. Here are a few of those winners. The 2000 Milken Award winners were: Marla Sutton, an art teacher in the Alma School District; Toni Lockhart, an elementary teacher in the Van Buren School District; Tracy Streeter, an elementary teacher from Hamburg; and Johnettee Walker, an elementary principal at Wilmot Elementary (Hamburg School District). The 2000 Superintendent of the Year was Dan Shepherd of the Marion School District. The AASBO School Business of the Year was Anita Murphee. The principals of the year were Dr. Bert Stark and Jerry Valentine. AACIA Administrator of the Year was Dr. Marsha Jones. The Arkansas Teacher of the Year was Patti Meeks from Hamburg.

On the legislative side, the members of the House Education Committee included: Pat Bond, Paul Bookout, Herschel Cleveland, Olin Cook, Mary Beth Green, Phillip T. Jacobs, Gene Jeffress, Calvin Johnson, Jim Magnus, Thomas Moore, Steve Oglesby, Mary Anne Salmon, Harmon R. Seawel, Wilma Walker, Paul Weaver, Robert J. White, and Arnell Willis. The Senate Education Committee included David Malone, Jim Argue, John E. Brown, Jodie Mahoney, and John A. Riggs. The Speaker of the House was Bob Johnson and the President of the Senate was Jay Bradford. There were two Extraordinary Sessions in 2000 as part of the 82nd General Assembly. The first dealt with tobacco settlement funds and the second consisted of property tax credits.

AAEA had around 2100 members with activity in the various constituent groups. Monty Betts was the AAEA President, Ed Sellers was president-elect, Johnny Thaxton was secretary/treasurer, and Linder Childers was past president. The staff members included: Dr. Kellar Noggle, Charles Knox, Ed Love, Truett Goatcher, Cecil Boothe, Dorthy Arendt, Lenore Monkus, and Paula Williams. The 25th Annual Conference was planned for July 31-August 2, 2000 at the Excelsior Hotel in Little Rock. The general session speakers were Dan Miller, author of Living and Loving Life; Michale Kneale, motivational speaker; and Tamara Hall, author of When Life Kicks, Kick Back.

It would not be a trip down Memory Lane without checking the sports record book. The football state champions were Rison, Boonville, Greenwood, and Cabot. (I attended this game and #44 for Cabot was a load!) In boys basketball it was Little Rock Fair, HS Lakeside, Lonoke, Earle, and Turrell. Girls basketball champions were FS Northside, Harrison, Ozark, Greenland, and Bradley. Baseball champions were Texarkana, Watson Chapel, Central Arkansas Christian, Horatio, and Ouachita. Softball champions were Rogers, Lake Hamilton, and Farmington. There was also a policy update given by NASBE at the time that gave the following statistics about students who did not participate in extra-curricular activities.

• 57% more likely to drop out

• 49% more likely to have used drugs

• 37% more likely to become teen parents

• 35% more likely to smoke

• 27% more likely to have been arrested

• Lower attendance rates

• More likely to carry weapons

Many things were going on nationally. In 2001, we had the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Enacted in 2001 under President George W. Bush, NCLB was a major overhaul of federal education policy. It emphasized accountability, requiring states to administer standardized tests in reading and math to students in grades 3–8 and once in high school. Schools were evaluated based on Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), with penalties for underperforming schools. While intended to close achievement gaps, critics argued it led to "teaching to the test" and neglect of non-tested subjects like the arts and social studies.

The Y2K bug, a potential problem with digital systems related to the transition to the year 2000, prompted schools to upgrade technology and infrastructure. While the feared disruptions did not materialize, the preparations spurred investment in more modern computer systems for administrative and educational purposes. The federal E-Rate program (established in 1996) provided discounted internet access to schools and libraries, resulting in more classrooms becoming connected to the internet by 2000.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, USDOE, and Children’s Defense Fund in 2000, approximately 45 million students were attending 89,500 schools in 15,358 districts. 4.6 million handicapped students were educated for $9,000 each. There were 6.2 million limited-English students with two million unable to speak any English. One million abused and neglected children and one million had lead poisoning. 500,000 students were from foster or other institutions. 500,000 students were considered homeless.

Education has come a long way in 25 years. It does not seem that long ago, but when you stop to think about it you look at the people named above and probably recognize a few names. It goes to show that we have a small window to make our mark in education. Don’t squander your gift of educating our youth. I hope you enjoy your break and come back ready to work in January. The legislative session and second semester are loading…