District Administrator's Corner

by Loren Glasbrenner River Valley School District Administrator Technology in our modern world has caused everything to be judged by speed. We hope for fast service, fast vehicles, fast internet, fast delivery, fast banking, etc. … Heck, even in the checkout line at the grocery—the little machine scans and beeps at a pace that amazes me. One of the positives that folks have experienced from the pandemic is the “slow down.” When you don’t go out, travel, and shop, your life slows down. Undoubtedly, the economy has changed pace and for some, even paused. Local businesses have had to adapt to a society that has very different needs. A fascinating report titled, “COVID-19 Community Mobility Reporting” (www.gstatic.com/covid19/mobility) is able to tabulate increases or decreases in our state. Not to anyone’s surprise, Wisconsin has seen a decrease in retail activity (places like restaurants, theme parks, museums, libraries, and movie theaters), but has seen an increase in two major areas—staying at home and going to parks (places like county parks, public parks, dog parks, and public gardens). This change of pace aligns with another phenomenon; one of the most improved skills during the pandemic is the skill of listening. It has been a skill, often ignored, and may have gotten a much needed polish. The resurgence of media forms (such as podcasts, music vendors, and radio) has provided us all with opportunities to listen. A poll of 2,000 Americans (conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with Harman International) found music and virtual concerts allowed respondents to feel connected (while they are listening). The study found that a majority of responders (60 percent) reported that listening to music was their choice to cope during any stressful situation. In the American business magazine, Forbes, Dianne Schilling has reported on skills that make us even better listeners: • Be attentive, but relaxed. • Listen to the words and try to picture what is being said. • Don’t interrupt. • Ask questions, after someone has finished speaking. • Try to feel what the speaker is feeling. • Pay attention to what is not being said; watch the nonverbal cues. • Keep an open mind. Without a doubt, teachers will be reinforcing these skills for the next couple of weeks. Students have to practice this daily—so do we as the adults. Do we remember to listen? Teachers are facilitators of the process of listening. They plan, develop, instruct, and craft opportunities for students to listen. Even during the pandemic, there are positive elements that can be found. Listening has become an art form during COVID. When we are at home or in a park, let’s appreciate the “slow down” and listen to each other. And if you need a couple tips, call a teacher or a student—they are happy to give some pointers. They have been practicing for years.