“Love and loss, are like a ship and the sea. They rise together. The more we love, the more we have to lose. But the only way to avoid loss is to avoid love. And what a sad world that would be.”
― V.E. Schwab

Stars, Stripes, and Turning 60

There’s something about early July that always feels like home to me. The Fourth of July, followed by my birthday a week later—this time of year has always been my favorite stretch on the calendar.

Of all the holidays, the Fourth has long held the top spot. There’s something about it I’ve always loved. The ideals of America—though we often fall short—still inspire. The gatherings of family and friends, the kitschy patriotism, the unapologetic garishness of it all. In this country, the unofficial motto seems to be: “Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.” That goes for the best of us… and the worst.

Fireball and Freedom

Growing up in the Poconos in a seasonal community, the Fourth marked the true kickoff to summer. Though we lived there year-round, most of our neighbors only showed up for the season. By July 4th, the town was bustling.

One of the more “memorable” traditions? A game called Fireball—an 80s-era hybrid of handball and soccer played at midnight with a ball soaked in kerosene and set aflame. Brilliantly idiotic. Exhilarating and dangerous. Honestly? A perfect metaphor for America.

Like Fireball, patriotism has receded into the background. For some, both now feel like relics of a different time.

Patriotism in a Fractured Time

My daughter and I recently talked about a friend of hers who struggles with the Fourth. The weight of our nation’s past and present leaves little space for celebration.

I get it. But I still love this country.

I’ve lived abroad, spent formative years in Europe, and traveled widely. Every place has its charms—except maybe France, but I digress. Still, there’s nothing quite like the U.S.

What’s disheartening, though, is how that pride has dimmed nationwide. A recent Gallup poll shows only 58% of adults say they’re “extremely” or “very” proud to be American—the lowest ever recorded. Among Gen Z, that number dips to just 41%.

Much of the blame gets laid at the feet of public education. The pendulum has swung from celebrating American triumphs to scrutinizing our failures. But in doing so, we’ve lost the balance. We’ve forgotten how many came here with nothing and built lives they never could have imagined in their homelands.

As author Jill Simonian wrote of her Armenian immigrant ancestors:

“Working hard is always worth it, opportunities are earned, and being well-educated means learning to respect and preserve a shared American identity while also having the freedom to disagree and express dissent.”

This isn’t a rare story. It’s so common we’ve stopped noticing.

Perspective, Change, and Coming of Age

With nearly 60 years behind me, I’ve realized one thing with certainty: change is constant. And the ability to navigate it is one of life’s most vital skills.

When I was younger, everything felt permanent. Every event was the event. These days, I know better. Everything passes. The highs, the lows, the outrage, the euphoria. None of it stays forever.

Each generation views the world differently. They communicate, work, and relate to one another in ways I couldn’t have imagined at their age. That’s as it should be. But I hope they don’t discard everything in the name of reinvention. Some of the old stuff still works.

Mental Health, Schools, and the Problem of Performance

I’ve long believed schools aren’t equipped to serve as the front line for children’s mental health. Well-meaning teachers aren’t trained therapists. And placing the burden on them risks delaying true help.

David Didau put it powerfully:

“We have mistaken performance for provision. We have reimagined mental health as a competency to be taught… as if anxiety were simply the result of faulty cognitive habits rather than a rational response to the world we have made.”

His critique is damning but necessary. Teaching mindfulness to a child drowning in poverty, instability, or academic pressure isn’t a solution—it’s a distraction. Worse, it risks blaming the child when the breathing exercises don’t work.

We can’t pretend every struggle is a disorder. Nor should we minimize trauma. There’s a line between normal human difficulty and clinical mental health issues, and only trained professionals should draw it.

As a manager, I used to see well-intentioned employees try to fix every customer problem themselves. But sometimes the kindest thing you can do is direct someone to the right person who can actually help.

Beware the well-intentioned man.

Testing, Retention, and the Limits of Data

State test results were released this week with the usual fanfare—record scores, best-ever gains, historic growth.

My reaction? Meh.

These are one-day snapshots, and they arrive too late to inform real instruction. I’ve started to question whether we’re measuring what actually matters. The TCAP feels rooted in 20th-century thinking—does it still reflect the world our kids live in?

Take the third-grade reading retention law. Only 0.88% of third graders were held back in 2024, but the gains for those “impacted” kids are inconsistent. One year up, one year down. Do we have a real improvement or just a temporary bump?

Then there’s the glowing report on Antioch High. After a fatal shooting this year that rocked the community, the school somehow improved in every subject area. No shade on the students, but that’s… miraculous, if nothing else.

Closing Thoughts

Next week I turn 60. I’m still trying to get comfortable with that number. But I’ve come to appreciate what age gives you: a bit more grace, a lot more patience, and the wisdom to know that most storms do, in fact, pass.

I still believe in America—not as a perfect nation, but as one worth believing in. I hope the next generation does too.

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Categories: Education