Thank you, David.
Again, over the years, I watched how—we talked together—you did that, and others around you. I remember Bev and so many kids we got.... We could probably name similar students whom we both taught, whom I still remember and who had heaps of promise. In some ways, they got derailed along the way, but I've also had students who were challenged during high school come and say, “Mr. Zimmer, guess what? I'm a welder now. You taught me how to weld, and I'm enjoying life.” They're having kids and families and succeeding in that next part of their lives.
I know it's perhaps too short a time to fully develop the answer to what you're saying we need to do, but I think that your being so honest and upfront with us will hopefully start the conversation in a good way.
Perhaps I'll ask you this, David, even breaking it down into high school, as an example: Using a high school, where we both taught, how would it look different, in a high school? Would there be extra supports for students?
I know it goes beyond that. It goes into families and much more beyond the four walls of a school. Where would we start?