What's Up, Doc? Discovering When Change is Good

By Randall Freeman, PhD

Change is difficult to adjust to for us. It’s human nature to want to stay with the familiar, to stay in our comfort zone. Life is a journey through constant change. It tests us, it annoys us, and it makes us stronger people.

I have been an elementary teacher for 27 years. I swore that I would teach 5th grade until I died. Events changed my plan. I was challenged to teach kindergarten by a teacher who saw something in me that I was missing. After 13 years in kindergarten, I would never want to go back to the higher grades -– but I could be called upon to do so at some point in the future.

Some 20 years ago, my school district implemented a new school schedule. We would have minimum days on Wednesdays. I hated the idea. It meant that all 30 of my students would be jammed into our classroom for more than four hours every Wednesday. It eliminated morning and afternoon kindergarten. It made my day longer with the kids.

Twenty years later, I look back and see that my district made a very wise decision. Teachers and administrators needed more time to collaborate together on increasing student safety and student achievement. I was provided with valuable time to plan with my kindergarten and first grade colleagues. My kids became all of the students in my grade level, not just those in my classroom.

We learned to help more children. It was amazing how many students had the same weaknesses. Instead of remaining isolated in my classroom, attempting to individually discover the "cure" for my students’ needs, there were now a group of professionals working together on common solutions to common problems.

I have not always been a fan of administrative decisions that affected what I was doing in my classroom. After 27 years, I have reached the realization that once in a while, they actually have some good ideas.

Parents learned to adapt to the change in schedule. Students learned to adapt, as did teachers and staff. The results have been positive for all parties concerned in providing the best education for our children.

Randy Freeman and his family have lived in Menifee since 1993. Randy teaches kindergarten in Perris and his lovely wife Karen teaches first grade here in Menifee at Freedom Crest Elementary School. They are the proud parents of four beautiful daughters: Daniela, 18, and 14-year-old triplets Sarah, Holly, and Megan. Other family members include dogs Scruffy, Mikko, & Max, 17-year-old cat Hunter, and turtle Tuttles. Randy earned his PhD in early childhood education in 2011 and has served on the Menifee Union School Board since 2008. Randy has wisely decided to delete the bit about being Karen's boss in order to continue living in his happy home. His column will appear here every other Tuesday.