Jackson Jambalaya

Education needs are best funded and administered at state and local levels as opposed to one-size fits all. Teachers and students’ needs drive wise curriculum choices. Teachers and students’ relationships are the most foundational predictors of educational successes.

I begin every semester telling students that every student in our class can do something better than any other student. In other words, some students need more help learning what other students already know how to do.

Before we begin class we need to get to know each other. Like most teachers I want to know my students names, what they prefer to be called. You might be surprised. It doesn’t matter to me. I call them whatever they prefer and ask them why they’re famous. Usually, this opens a dialogue about interests and accomplishments, or sometimes feelings of inadequacies. I begin to know them.

Critical thinking is foundational for all learning. Few people know how to think critically or to practice thinking critically. We all get stuck in our own roles and beliefs.

Last week I commented that most people in our class were open minded, right? Yes, that was the consensus. Nobody in our class was closed minded, right? Right! “Could anyone persuade you that your strong belief is wrong?” I could almost hear the gears turning.

In fact, most of the students realized they were closed minded about some things! I commended them for being smart enough to realize they were closed minded. All critical thinkers know they’re closed minded about some things. If they’re not closed minded they’re not critical thinkers.

For years I have asked students to lay their phones and watches, etc. on the table at the front of the room. I am giving them an hour of freedom! It’s always give or take when asking students to reduce distractions in the classroom. Some thank me at the end of the semester. Policy makers still struggle with this.

We talk about how difficult it is to communicate. “Communication is the problem to the answer.” Listening critically is the most difficult communication skill by far. We must learn to listen first to understand. Most of us only listen to reply. This is not a good trait for one interviewing for a job, or for one’s first day on a job.

Mrs. Wilson, my high school algebra teacher, gave us a math problem in class. We all struggled to solve it. I asked her some questions about the problem, and she said we needed to know how the solution would solve the problem before we could figure it out. Oh. That became my “go-to” in solving life’s problems.

Education was one of Donald Trump’s planks in his platform. Those who challenged first said, “We need more money.” President Trump appointed Linda E. McMahon Secretary of Education and told her she should eventually “put herself out of a job.” Secretary McMahon first sought to understand what Trump wanted her to do. Then her department developed plans to spread $194.72 billion according to states’ needs.

March 20, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order returning administration of education to parents and local communities. Who is most qualified to identify needs of students than parents and teachers? America’s children do not need political teachers’ unions to drain federal dollars in Washington.

Daniel L. Gardner is a columnist who lives in Starkville, MS. You may contact him at PJandMe2@gmail.com.