Those familiar with my story are keenly aware of my affinity for history and its value in offering purposeful lessons for reimagining our future. Although it has become cliché, the line "What is past is prologue" from Shakespeare's The Tempest provides a poetic glimpse at the importance of applying a historical lens. Embedded in this thread of language is the hope of being able to reflect, learn, and construct new opportunities for growth. Whether you have shared the journey of S.A.G.E. from its inception or are new to this platform, the authentic attributes garnered through reflection have served as a theme interspersed through the many assertions that frame this forum.
It is from that spirit of thought in which this simple composition emerges. As a point of context, coinciding with the close of my twenty-sixth academic year, I had completed a wonderful book by C.W. Goodyear titled President Garfield: From Radical to Unifier. Now, I certainly recognize that I may lose some readers who are not entertained by such texts but bear with me. Embedded implicitly among the pages of Goodyear's (2023) publication is the utility independent thinkers can find in the reflective practice of journaling. Experientially, I can attest to the invaluable asset this art form has been in chronicling and, more importantly, reflecting on the daily engagements from which my paradigms and worldview are generated. In short, Garfield, a former educator, left several journals for posterity that exemplify the merit of such a practice. While I have been intrigued by this figure since my college days, Goodyear's (2023) text offered a statement ascribed to Garfield, which I was unfamiliar with yet grateful to have encountered. From this space, I ask that you reflect on the following words penned by Garfield in one of his many journals —"I love agitation and investigation, and glory in defending unpopular truth against popular error" (Goodyear, 2023, p. 36).
While I will yield to the position that many are unable to relate to the notion of relishing the heated exchanges that arise from speaking inconvenient truth to power, I will contend that when reflecting on the nature of a professional charge, perhaps this is the very essence of professionalism. When combatting the silo mentality that currently defines our body politic and, for that matter, our systems of education, this statement composed in the nineteenth century becomes a vehicle for discernment amid the disharmony that frames our communities, institutions, and world today. Without pontificating on the challenges that bring forth the acrimony of our time, Garfield's words speak of the need to engage the complex as a mechanism for personal growth.
S.A.G.E. was built on such a premise. Without question, transformation can only occur when stakeholders are willing to assert their voices in the midst of demanding and agitational exchanges. From my vantage point, systems are merely a collection of individuals who can dictate the course of its future through their willingness to forgo self-interest by advocating for a culture of learning. As we quickly approach the New Year, Garfield's words should resonate with those charged with the noble craft of creating ecosystems of thought for the young and impressionable learners that will ultimately chart a path for our society. While the past may be prologue, meaning and purpose are only derived through introspection and a willingness to embrace a lens of learning. Short of such a practice, stakeholders relegate the future to the failings of the past. For me, the power of possibility is not a catchphrase but a belief in the capacity that resides in a reflective approach to a profession.
In composing this piece on the 29th day of December 2024, I find great symmetry between the theme espoused and the life of our 39th President, Jimmy Carter. Regardless of your political leanings, one should find great inspiration in the life of an individual who embodied the selflessness central to advancing a cause. In both words and actions, President Carter was an introspective soul whose view of the world is best expressed in one of his more powerful statements — “Wherever life takes us, there are always moments of wonder.” May the upcoming year bring you and your family all the best of health and happiness, accompanied by the joy and wonder that emanates from the beauty of this journey.
Reference
Goodyear, C.W. (2023). President Garfield: From radical to unifier. Simon & Schuster.
Happy New Year!! Loved this read. Keep them coming.