Greetings from Winfield City Schools,
The year was 1971 and the Coca Cola Company gathered a diverse group of young people from all over the world. The advertisement was for their product, but it actually was a precursor to what we still long for, not just in our own country, but in the world today. The commercial was about peace and harmony. It was a time when there was a great unrest in the United States with concerns about the war, achieving equality and respect, and growing as a nation. The words to the song were as follows:
I’d like to build the world a home and furnish it with love. Grow apple trees and honey bees and snow white turtle doves. I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony. I’d like to hold it in my arms and keep it company. I’d like to see the world for once all standing hand in hand, and hear them echo through the hills for peace throughout the land.
A very interesting message from 51 years ago, don't you think?
Perhaps a great marketing tool for public education would be to choose a similar narrative. I’d like to build a school and furnish it with love. Grow respect, grace, no bullying, and the like thereof. I’d like to teach the kids to learn in perfect unity. I’d like to see them nurtured by loving arms and with a sense of civic community. I’d like to see parents, students, and educators standing hand in hand, and hear the echo of peace throughout our land.
If it were only that easy!
We have so many challenges when it comes to being a parent or caregiver for our children. The same is true for those of us that are in education. We do, however, have the benefit of being in a small town and the ability to be more personable. There is something to be said for being in a small town. As a matter of fact, you might be from a small town if:
You tell everyone that the Chinese restaurant has paved their parking lot, and it is big news.
You can’t wait for Thursday because the Chic- fil-A truck will be in town until 6:00.
You struggle when a tornado causes the main traffic light to be replaced with a new light that does not have a left turn arrow.
You are in almost disbelief when someone asks what a Strawberry Mountain Dew is.
You know what the 4th Saturday in September stands for (Mule Day).
It is nice to be able to poke light hearted fun at the benefits of a small town. I hope we never take for granted the blessings we have in this community. We are Winfield. Go Pirates!