A few days ago, I saw something that stayed in my head (which usually means I’ll eventually be compelled to put it in writing). I was leaving Ala Wai Harbor when a child about 8 years old ran frantically past me, almost knocking me down. She was holding a large fish in her hands as she ran. She seemed to be in a panic and yet she was undeterred by anything standing in her way. As I watched the scene unfold, she jumped into the shallow end of the dock where the tide was very low. She held lovingly onto that fish while moving toward the water. She bent over and gently put the fish in the water and then let it go. The fish didn’t move so she reached into the water and gently pushed it forward again. The fish still didn’t move. Her father said softly from the side of the dock, “The fish is dead honey. Just let it go”. She looked up and screamed, “He’s not dead. He’ll be okay.” The father looked on helplessly as this scene repeated itself like a slow-motion movie. No matter what the father said, she refused to listen.

All of a sudden, that fish surprised us all by moving ever so slightly as long as she gently nudged it forward. After a few times, it began swimming away slowly as we all looked on in utter shock. To be quite honest, he didn’t look great but then we didn’t see what happened after he was out of view. I choose to believe that he recovered. All I know is that everyone watching felt like we had just witnessed something beautiful. This young child believed that it would be okay and she was not going to give up on that fish no matter what anyone said.

Of course, everything I see and do comes back to education and this post is no different. The profession that we love feels as if it’s been dying a slow death for two years and counting. We have all watched in horror as common sense and professionalism are on its last breath; replaced by mandates driven by a political agenda and personal desire based on media-fueled opinion. Legitimate research seems to be dubbed the enemy as one-size-fits-all perspectives grounded in the make-believe world of ‘simple and settled’ are celebrated. We watch as scripted programs replace knowledge-driven professional decision-making. Add to that the increasing Twitter attacks on anyone who dares to speak up and you have the perfect storm.

Just like that fish, the literacy world we treasure is dying a slow death. We can either stand on the sidelines shaking our heads and talking about the good old days as we throw our hands in the air because it’s already dead or we can spring into glorious action. I believe that if we don’t take steps now and speak up, the beliefs we hold dear will not be as lucky as that fish and will die that slow death after all as we stand idly by.

I think about that little girl often. She could have passively willed the fish to swim off or shouted to the heavens to let it live, but in the end, it was her beliefs and commitment that spurred her into action – and THAT made all the difference. She loved that fish and she was willing to do whatever it took to bring it back to life even if everyone around her was telling her it was useless to even try. Who knows if the fish went on to live a long life since he wasn’t looking great as he swam out of view. But then again, who knows if he pulled it all together and made his way into the ocean sunset for a long life.

We are at a crossroads, my friends. The world of literacy is not doing well and it needs us to give it a gentle nudge back to life. We can sit back and shake our heads, lamenting how sad it is and how much we wish for the good old days or we can jump into action and stand up to what is happening around us. Just like that little girl, I believe we will be able to change the trajectory of what we see happening. Will it be easy? No way. Will we suddenly magically recover? Not a chance. But it’s a start that WILL take all of us who are willing to speak up. And I’m not talking about fighting with people on social media hellbent on demeaning anyone who has the audacity to disagree with them (I’m so over that). I’m talking about sharing our beliefs in any and every way we can, even if it’s done anonymously by writing to politicians. Everything counts and you can choose what it will be for you! It seems to me that we need to be just as intentional in sharing our beliefs as those who are perpetuating the opinion of a reporter who is a self-designated literacy expert and the echo chamber she has set in motion by those who just blindly follow.

Do we have the courage to put OUR beliefs into glorious action? I sure hope so since that crossroad looms large in our view…

Call me crazy, but I still believe in miracles!

Note: Put your energy where it counts; not on responding to personal attacks but sharing beliefs you hold dear in meaningful and purposeful ways. Pick your battles friends and don’t get sucked down a rabbit hole because right now, it’s at every turn!