This year my spring break was less of a vacation and more of a field trip. My husband Scott and I had begun to feel the time crunch regarding the number of spring breaks we have left with our kids; five more with Isaac, six with Jonah, and a few more with Zoe. We started evaluating all of the experiences we wanted to give our children before they move on from us, so along with my mother we decided to plan a trip that would help our children see some of the sights that we feel all Americans should see. The eight-day excursion included four days in Washington DC followed by four days in New York City (my favorite city on Earth).
We saw many sights on our trip, including several governmental buildings and national monuments. Access to most of the attractions in both DC and NYC included "airport style" security, with the latest technology including metal detectors and body scanners. Security was heightened due to the attack in Brussels, so in addition to the usual security measures, there were armed law enforcement officers standing guard as well. My mom had arranged a private tour of the Capitol through Senator Dan Coats' office, so upon our arrival to DC we dropped our bags at the hotel and headed straight to Capitol Hill. After clearing the scans and beeps of security for the second time that day, our guide Blake took us through some of the most amazing areas. This access allowed us to see places where much of our nation's history took place, as well as areas where our current legislators work and policy is made. During our tour, we were able to see what used to be the House Chamber. Today it serves as a statute hall and is lined with the likenesses of Americans who help to shape our nation. Even today there are plate markers on the floor indicating where notable men such as John Adams and Abe Lincoln once sat as our early laws and policies were formed. In addition we saw the original Supreme Court chamber, preserved to show where our nation's early court cases were presented and decided. No surprise that these areas were void of technology, indicative of the days these areas were politically functional. The greatest technology modeled was the whispering capabilities of the former House Chamber's wall arches, where early lawmakers would eavesdrop on the discussions of those on the other side. (Very cool, BTW!) The surprise came when we visited the current day work areas, including the room were the Appropriations Committee meets, as well as the Senate Chamber where legislators happened to be voting on a bill. While in these areas, I was surprised with the minimal technology present in these rooms as well. No TV/display screens. No electronic voting equipment. Few mobile electronic devices. Instead all information was shared by mouth. Each senator milled informally through the chamber, glad handing and talking, until pausing to get the attention of the clerk recording the votes (by hand on paper) to vote on the proposed pieces of legislation. The clerk would call out the vote for all to hear, then stop every few minutes to count by hand the number of yea or nay votes. No doubt this same process has been in place for centuries.
Now I'm not judging the process of our national government. Far be it for me to criticize a system that establishes our laws and keeps order in our great country. Perhaps the lack of technology is the result of national security requirements, and bringing the processes into the 21st century would put us at risk. Again, not judging. Maybe I just didn't see the technologies being used, however I did peek into the offices of several senators and their staffs. What did I see? A couple of desktop computers at best. Can't take those with you. I continually passed lawmakers and staff members in the halls, including House Speaker Paul Ryan. No tablets or phones in hand. Friends, I don't leave my office without my phone for fear one of my teachers or administrators will need to contact me. Why? Because in this day and age there is an expectation for constant availability and access to information. I need to be accessible to perform my job well. I can say with certainty that most all of my K-12 counter parts feel and behave the same way. The expectation of availability is not limited to the education world. There wasn't a professional on the street or subway in either city that we visited that wasn't "teched up", working as he/ she moved about. Which leads me to wonder, is this lack of technology the reason our government often runs slow and at times seems to be inefficient? Could our nation's leaders be more "connected" to each other and their constituents? Could many of our governmental processes be expedited with the help of technology? And what would it take to make these changes? It wasn't until we were attacked on American soil in 2001 that security technologies were put in place, prompting the very measures my family passed through on our trip. What needs to happen before lawmakers understand the power of being connected? Does the lack of technology correlate to the age of those serving our country in those positions? It is my hope that as our generation of students move into governmental positions, we will begin to see a more accessible kind of leadership, leading to more efficient processes. Honestly, I'm not sure this group of Americans is capable of disconnecting. I know my boys can't.
As we head home from our adventure, I'm thankful that the #StachlerSB2016 field trip turned out to not only be a learning experience for the kids, but for momma as well. I'm interested to see if this experience caused either of my boys to get bit by the political bug. Who knows, maybe there will be a Stachler on the ballot in years to come.
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