Education Matters: Other generations have much to teach

Several days ago, I was invited to speak to the annual meeting of a group of retired citizens which during the past 40 years has developed a considerable amount of influence in the legislative arena at both the state and national levels.

Most of the readers of the Springfield Business Journal are much younger than the average age of the above-mentioned group of "seniors."

They are active in their professional and business pursuits and will find it difficult to see themselves as being retired or at the stage of life when the rigors of the job, the workweek and work year are not uppermost in their minds.

It reminds me of the task of telling a youngster in his or her early teens that graduation is just around the corner and one must "get the books" so that in four or five years the transcript will be acceptable for entrance in college or career. It is nearly impossible for an eighth-grader to see far enough ahead to visualize graduation from high school. However, in just a moment that time arrives.

Most retired teachers do not desire to get back in the classroom. There is too much going on to keep looking back, but the school district should covet the opportunity to tap into their experience and wisdom.

The same advice goes for the business or community.

Our history is the only foundation we have upon which to build the future and, who better than those who laid the foundation, to describe and interpret our history and enter into a conversation as to how it may and should influence today's discussions and tomorrow's future.

Some may feel that the old ways and ideas are so archaic as to render them useless for today's more sophisticated and complicated issues.

Perhaps, this is a good point, particularly if the older generation demands that we turn back to a "golden era" where all was bliss and everything was more right. Of course, those dreamy days of the past never existed. For some, they are just that, a dream which serves as an escape from the reality of today.

It will not surprise the alert among us to observe how similar today is to yesterday. Amazing technology has sprung upon us but it has taken the "senior" generation no time at all to get acquainted with the computer, Internet, online bidding and purchasing and even Nintendo.

What really defines us is the same as that which defined the lives of our ancestors. It is our human nature, which is pretty much unchanged. It is our values, our behavior, our ethical core, all of which are much the same as was true for our parents. We are more like our parents and grandparents than we realize and their thoughts and actions, good or bad, permeate us.

So the basic decisions confronting our community, businesses, school district and families remain the same as yesterday. What do we believe and shall we treat one another are key questions of yesterday and today and the right answer today should be the same as the right answer yesterday.

As I reflect on that crowd of seniors with whom I visited, some in their 90s and many in their 70s, all alert and living useful and vibrant lives, I would be pleased to sit at their feet and listen to their thoughts. They are kind and they support their children and grandchildren who are running things today. If they believe a cause to be unjust, they are organized, they have a network and each one has a vote.

(Arthur L. Mallory, EdD, is a former president of Southwest Missouri State University and former commissioner of education.)