Farewell to the Townsend School District
Author: Kevin McDonnell
Farewell to the Townsend School District
Kevin McDonnell
Townsend School District,
I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve on the board. It has been a positive and varied experience. I am glad there is so much renewed interest in the school and so many good candidates running for the board. It is interesting to recall my reasons for initially wanting to be on the board and how my thoughts about education have changed and also remained the same.
Someone once advised me that at times it is helpful to remember initial motivations and ideals for beginning an endeavor. Through many experiences, I have found that by doing so I gain a fresh perspective and renewed energy. To enter the educational field, I imagine requires a high degree of idealism. Wealth and fame are typically not in the equation.
I am grateful for the education my children received and am grateful for the dedication and professionalism shown by the Townsend Schools faculty and administration over the years. You are the ones who make it work. The new building can be designed to be safe, but it cannot secure itself. It can be designed to welcome the community and parents, but it cannot bring them in. Spaces can be built to facilitate learning, but the teachers engage the students in meaningful learning.
I still believe a good teacher with a chalkboard and a notebook is better than a disengaged teacher with a Chromebook and a smartboard. Unfortunately, there is no panacea to solve the challenges that face education today. What we have are the people who are dedicated to educating our students. I wish you all the best and hope that you can find time to reconnect with those ideals that initially lead you into the educational field and keep you motivated.
Best regards,
Kevin McDonnell
