2026 Reflections — I.School

January to June, 2026.

Travel. Home. Travel. Repeat.

Currently sitting in an artsy loft in Natchez, Mississippi.

Truths I have discovered in recent years of van life-

California, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas; PNW (pacific north west); Canada; Newfounland; Nova Scotia; East Coast (Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee); Louisiana, Mississippi- Natchez along the Mississippi River June 4, 2026.

People are generally nice. We have not encountered one bad experience with folks. Not a one (knock on wood). Quite the opposite in fact.
People like to talk. I like to listen. I have noticed patterns. After the usual niceties- “nice day,” “nice van,” “where are you from? nice,” if time permits- talks go to politics- both local and global. Usually not so nice but more of ‘here are the facts’ followed by an exhaustive resignation. ‘What are ya gonna do?’ sort of attitude. Again, depending on time the chats start to get really interesting. Personal stories of work, family, history. That’s when stuff gets really good. Meeting all sorts of people at all times of day and night, from all sorts of socio-political-economic diversities is time well absorbed. Then, depending on comfortabilities and pauses or questions for me- “what brings you here?” I say- “I am educating myself and doing research on Public Education.” 100% of the people I have talked to have had experiences with public schooling. 100% of those agree there is need for reform. Then more exhausted resignation and a rhetorical ‘Yea, but what ya gonna do?’ (accents and vernacular changes, but the same question lingers).
People don’t know what to do. I can appreciate that. What I want to say is this- The current state of the world and frustrations politically, economically, socially is directly connected to education. “How did we get here?” One thing I am certain of is that we could not be here, in this situation without public education. The mass occupation of time and head-space/ mind over the masses. Top down consolidated information and lack of critical thinking. By design.
People don’t have the time and lack conversational direction. I believe this is due to 1. Media- top down consolidated information manipulating conversations which usually involves fear. By design. Usually fear of some “other”. 2. Education- cell to bell system dominating the most formative years of life. “Sit down. Shut up and we will tell you what to think.” Fears of Test. Test. Test. Then, get a job and work the rest of your life supporting the top-down consolidated system that has occupied both time and young minds.
People want a different direction. Fears and learned helplessness are barriers to change.
People. The problems and solutions are ‘hidden in plain sight.’ Time and conversational space. Education and media. Change the conversations. Change the directions.
People Problems and I- How can I better facilitate better conversations around education that are neither hopeless (it is not) nor conspiratorial sounding? One thought on conspiracy theories is that conversations around conspiracies lead to tin foil hats and looney talks. Is that by design? The biggest conspiracy remains untouched and unspoken. Quickly diverted into suspicion.

Potential solutions- change the conversations. Start to think about different directions. What would be an ideal day? Month? Year?

Beware of traps. “but I can’t” “they won’t. let me…”

After years of travel in a van. With a man. I can say this- some things ARE possible outside the classroom and outside the media box of horrors.

Thoughts lead to words, words lead to actions, actions lead to habits. What habits have formed? What habits would you like re-formed?

Go to class, gaze at screens. In between- sit up straight. Alert. Think. Think for yourself. What do you want that isn’t rooted in fear and sabotage? Just start to imagine. You are not alone, yet you are. Now what?