By Bill Mulcahy, Head of Lower School
I had the opportunity to explore some of the latest insights on the evolving landscape of education while attending the Southern Association of Independent School's (SAIS) Annual Conference in Charlotte recently. As an educator, I'm always interested in understanding the current trends impacting students, teachers, and parents, and considering how schools like ours can best support our community. One of the most informative sessions I attended was led by SAIS President Brett Jacobson, who outlined "10 Shifts in Education" – a thought-provoking look at changes and challenges in our field that are simultaneously worrisome and hopeful. Here are some key insights that particularly resonated with me:
Teachers – Nationally, two significant data trends present a concerning outlook for the future of education. The number of students entering the teaching “pipeline” is at an all-time low, with about half the number of students studying education in college compared to 25 years ago. Additionally, data (primarily from public schools) indicates that educators are the second least likely (after healthcare workers) to recommend their organization as a place to work. On a more positive note, SAIS reports that independent school teachers have much higher satisfaction and are more likely to recommend their school to others than their public school counterparts. Since teachers are the heart of schools, attracting and retaining exceptional educators is more critical than ever, particularly as teacher shortages challenge many public school systems. Here at Country Day, while we are fortunate to continue welcoming the best and brightest to our faculty, we must, as leaders, ensure that we consistently foster an environment where our teachers can grow and thrive.
Parents – Another shift Jacobsen highlighted is the impact of parental health, well-being, and societal polarization, which affects parents and, in turn, their children and schools. Jacobsen discussed the recent report “Parents Under Pressure,” issued by the US Surgeon General, which includes data on school-aged parents and highlights rising levels of anxiety among them. He also addressed societal polarization and how it increasingly affects school communities. Listening to this, I felt grateful to be part of a school community that values and respects differences and perspectives—a reason I experience little polarization in my work. At the same time, I was reminded of the challenges modern parents face and how profoundly they can affect parents' health and well-being. As the adage goes, “children are only as healthy as their adults,” and the challenges parents experience often manifest in their children.
Students – Jacobsen covered various issues impacting students, such as AI (both its positive and negative effects on older students), health and well-being, and contemporary learning. While I’ve written extensively on student health and well-being before, I found the data presented particularly enlightening. The challenging news? Rates of anxiety and depression are significantly higher among late middle and high school students nationally. However, recent data from ISM, a national organization that works with independent schools, shows that elementary and early middle school students broadly identify as happy and healthy. This data is valuable for identifying what elementary schools are doing well and what we can prioritize to help students succeed as they grow older. The discussion also included student learning topics, focusing on lifelong learners vs. skill seekers and the importance of schools imparting both valuable skills and academic “habits of mind.”