My View
I’m Not Accepting This ‘New Normal’
BY CYNTHIA M. STOCKER/School Administrator, October 2020

AS TECHNOLOGY INCREASES exponentially, we in school leadership are expected to push ourselves harder and further than ever. As e-mails pile up in our inbox and we are expected to be available 24/7, who has noticed all that we’ve been sacrificing, our lack of presence and full participation in meetings and our inattention during family conversations?

Has anyone noticed the skewed values we’ve been teaching our children as they inhabit the world we’re leaving them? Anyone else experience a lack of sleep and declining health as we plow on and equate success with increased personal productivity? Who has noticed the physical distancing that we’ve been accepting as the norm?

I did not recognize these harmful signs for some time. I pushed on.

While all of this has been happening, no one has paid any attention to the personal connections that we were neglecting and ultimately losing.

Our Vulnerabilities

Something had to slow the world down, and it makes sense that something biological would be the only force that could remind us that we share the same human vulnerability. It is time we stand united in our vulnerability and match our actions with our convictions.

As we live in fear of contact with others and of contracting this coronavirus, many have referred to the changes occurring in our lives since the COVID-19 pandemic began as the “new normal.” I, for one, do not want to think any of this is normal. I don’t want decisions to see my children, friends or family restricted. I don’t want the phone to be my only means of contact with people. I never imagined I might not be able to hug my children or would be prevented from attending the birth of my first grandchild. This virus kept me away physically, but not in spirit.

COVID-19 has flattened us and made us equal in a way that other natural or manmade disasters did not. Why should we allow this to be the new normal? Do we want a world where we live in fear of getting close to people and connecting on a human level? Do we want a world where our political leaders fight for their party beliefs more than they fight to support the people?

Renewed Connections

When we rise from this, and we will, my hope is that we realize once again what is important, that we need each other to grow and thrive. We must create our own “normal” by embracing the lessons learned during COVID-19.

Instead of emphasizing individualism and our separateness, let’s teach students that we are connected. We can demonstrate how a decision made halfway around the world affected the entire planet. We can teach students how to value each other and the importance of physical connection because the only way we rise is together.

When we rebuild, my hope is education once again is appreciated, good health is a universal goal and the world is brought together in unity to create a future where we value and cultivate each other’s differences.

When we put aside our fear of COVID-19, there will be a new beginning. How we start depends on all of us. My hope is that we hug again and laugh again and that love, connection and compassion are priorities in education.

CYNTHIA STOCKER is the superintendent of Stockbridge Valley Central School in Munnsville, N.Y. Twitter: @cindystocker