08/23/2010
From the Editor
Charles Sosnik Editor in Chief

FROM the EDITOR Fall 2010

I have a real passion for education. One of my favorite things to do is to share ideas with others who are equally passionate about educating our children. So I was particularly pleased to get a call from our Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Normally, when a cabinet-level individual calls, you would expect a lot of formality – a secretary to the Secretary placing the call and getting you on the line so He can speak to you. No such pomp here. The call came in around 4:30 and I was greeted by “Hi, this is Arne Duncan.” It was like we had been talking for years. That’s Arne. Genuine. Passionate. And genuinely passionate about education. The Secretary laid out his ideas for the future of education in our country. Mostly broad brush strokes. Some detail. But what came through to me was his genuine interest and belief in the strength of our communities and our ability to transform our education landscape. I like his holistic approach to education; he incorporates it into the lives of students, their families, and the community. He also has a deep respect and reverence for teachers.

The theme of this issue is A Tribute to Teachers. It may be my favorite theme ever. Teachers are charged with the awesome responsibility of teaching our children, instilling in each and every one the love of learning and the basic skills and knowledge that they will need to have productive and happy lives. In fact, teachers have the responsibility of insuring our continued economic well being as a nation, our very security. Wow! That’s a lot to heap on a person coming out of school and making thirty-two point five per year! We say it a lot, but teachers really are the unsung heroes of our country. That said, I look for any opportunity to provide the tools to help our teachers teach. In this issue, we’ve put together some great resources that I think you will find helpful as you inspire young minds.

If you could build the perfect school campus, what would it look like? I asked Steve Turckes, noted school architect for the firm of Perkins + Will. Steve says that most schools were built for a time when we had a very regimented education system that has little resemblance to the way we educate today. Schools should be responsive, connected, agile, and accommodate the way students learn. I think you’ll enjoy the article. It’s fascinating stuff, and a must read for every educator.

In our next issue, we’re going to examine the world of private education. Public vs. private? I would have to debate both sides of that question. For all my love of public education, I am a huge fan of private schools as well. One thing I can promise you – this one will be a lot of fun to read.

I am noticing the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting longer. I love the clean, crisp feel of autumn, a time of year I call sweater-weather. After a long hot summer (I do live in Charlotte, after all), the cooler air is invigorating and reminds me that all things change, which can be quite wonderful.

As always, I’d love to hear from you. Drop me a line at charles.sosnik@seenmagazine.us. I hope to hear from you soon.

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