Higher education, like agriculture, is cyclical, with deeply established rhythms.  The seasons in higher education, however, move upstream. August and September feel like spring. It is a time of rebirth—students return full of hope. November to March feel like, well, November to March: winter, the time to bear down and do the work or, as we call it in Florida, season.

In both the agricultural and educational cycles, April is the cruelest month. On campus, it is not so much about lilacs breeding out of the dead land. Rather, students and their professors are under great stress.  Exams loom and papers are due.  Students fail, or not.  Parties and protests break out.  

May, on the other hand, feels more like fall—it is a beautiful month, but it is bittersweet: one knows it is about leave-taking. For May is about graduation.  

In the Bradenton-Sarasota area, over 3,300 students will receive degrees from local universities, most of them this May. It would be impossible and churlish not to take pleasure in their accomplishments. They’ve worked hard, and many have significant accomplishments. However, just as departure of college-bound, first-year students is hard for parents, graduation is difficult for faculty and staff. We want them to leave. It is time. But it is hard to let go.

About 180 of those students will graduate from New College. These students have spent the last four years exploring what they care most deeply about and trying to knit that together with what they will do in future. They came for an education, and more than 80 percent will seek further education. They sought vocations: things they love, things they are good at and things that will help others.  Some found one or more. Others are still looking. All have completed a substantial piece of work. All have grown and changed.  

This class, like many before, is highly accomplished. Its members have won two Fulbrights, three Gilmans, a Frost (to Oxford), and two French Government scholarships.  Other students have found positions in cutting edge research labs.  Some have taken jobs.   This is the college’s fiftieth graduating class.  But for me, this is my class.  They entered New College at the same time that I did.  And I will miss them.  

Commencement is May 20 at 7:00 p.m. on the Bayfront at New College.  The celebrated journalist and civil rights pioneer, Charlayne Hunter-Gault, will deliver the address.   Help us celebrate them and say goodbye.   All are welcome.  

Higher education’s final season is summer. For faculty, the summer is a period of less teaching and a time for research. It is a time where the workload drops to something approaching a normal 40-hour week. Science faculty will work with students and colleagues in their labs. Humanists and social scientists will hunker down or travel to seek out archives and new research. It is a time to get those papers and books written, to revise syllabi and to prepare new course materials. It is wonderful work, but it can be frustrating and lonely. Summer passes quickly, and the awareness that what is undone will likely have to wait another year, weighs heavily.  

But even now, the anticipation of the arrival of the new class and the new spring begins to swell.

Dr. Donal O'Shea is president of New College of Florida. 

Our public school systems were set up with the idea every child deserved an education, no matter into what socio-economic status they fell. Then we realized that it’s not just about an education, but how our children are prepared for their future. We make that possible because we know that we all benefit from an educated society.  

I taught in both the public and the private sector and can honestly say it’s not easy being a teacher. It wasn’t the students. Even when I worked with special needs children, the most challenging times I had were with the parents and the administration. I found that no matter what education I acquired, everyone was an expert at my job. I get that. I am a parent too, and no one is a better expert at my child than me. But you factor that in with poor pay, long hours and very little support, it makes it hard not to ask yourself what you are doing this for. For myself, the day came when I could not answer that question and I left the field of teaching. That was even before teaching became a political football of Gov. Rick Scott and his friends in Tallahassee. (Cue friends of the Governor; gets your pens out boys.)

In 2009, the idea that we all had to tighten our belts in this state and relieve ourselves of the burden put on us by a bloated government—a government full of workers who survive on the teat of our Nanny state—caught on like wildfire. Teachers, Firefighters, and Policemen found themselves in front of the firing squad because they had the audacity to expect the public to deliver what they were promised when they signed up to do their job. If you were a member of a union and were counting on your pension to retire or needed medical insurance to help buffer the cost of your healthcare, you were the subject of ridicule and disparagement for expecting way too much of your employer (the public.)  The rhetoric turned into the mantra of the private sector who asked why the public sector should be allowed to have a security that no one else felt.

While the pressure subsided on the policemen and firefighters, the heat was turned up even higher on teachers. Since then, there has been an attack on the public school system at all levels. Money has poured into school board races that help candidates who are friendly to giving private schools access to public money, weakening the safeguards put in place for checks and balances of our schools, introducing differential pay for teachers and undermining the strength of teachers’ unions by portraying them as the evil-doers of our society.

Then came the onslaught of education reform bills, the pushing of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education, tying teacher bonuses to their high school Student Assessment Test (SAT) grades. At the higher level: hand-picking University board members who are willing to remove teacher tenure, defunding degrees that Gov. Scott feels have poor job perspectives like psychology and anthropology and creating a  performance-based-funding formula  that makes it more difficult for universities and colleges that have a liberal arts curriculum like New College in Sarasota to count on state funding.

Finishing off with an offer of early buy-out to push teachers to retire and preventing them from coming back into the system (even as a substitute teacher) for a year has helped create one of the biggest problems of our future—a scarcity of young students who enter into the teaching profession. State Education authorities label the teacher shortage as “critical” and between 40 and 50 percent of new teachers leave within five years. Come on, be honest. If your child is thinking about what to do after graduation, would you suggest your child become a teacher in Florida?  I know I would be hard-pressed to suggest it.  The question is, “How are we going to fix this?”

Susan Nilon is the host of The Nilon Report. Contact her at Susan.Nilon@Gmail.com. 

All too often we read stories bringing bad news or stressing the negative side of human behavior. I recently had the great fortune of receiving a story from one of our wonderful volunteer guides for the artwork at Patriot Plaza in the Sarasota National Cemetery. I could not begin to tell it as well as she did. Please enjoy it with me today:

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He looked lost and a bit frail. His plaid shirt tucked into trousers that now were too large and pleated by the belt that was pulled tight. He seemed shy and a bit sad. One of the docents asked if he had a question or needed information. The relief was clear on his face. "I'd just like a picture taken" he said. I quickly volunteered as this older gentleman said "do you know how to use an apple"? I hope I did not chuckle out loud, but asked politely "do you mean an iPhone?" His smile broadened and his shyness seemed to pass for a second. Pointing to the front of the amphitheater he said, "it's over there, are you sure you don't mind?" I eased his mind and offered to walk wherever he wanted to pose. As we slowly walked toward the stage, I learned that he was a corporal in the 101st Airborne in the Korean War. As I thanked him for his service, he asked where the cremated remains were buried in the wall. I changed the direction of our walk realizing he had come to visit someone. "My wife" he said, “in this _____ row”. Assuring him we could find it we walked along chatting. At 83 and coming from Bonita Springs, he said it was difficult to get rides clear to Sarasota National Cemetery. He had visited once before, but this was all new to him. There had not been a marker at her site the last time he was here. He said he only comes for special occasions. Today was her birthday and two days prior was their 58th wedding anniversary. As we talked his emotion was evident. "I'm sorry,”  he said. “This is new to me and still fresh. We had no children, just the two of us. I miss her so." Placing my arm around him, I said she must have been very special and you were both so lucky to have shared a love for 58 years. We walked arm in arm looking for her site. His anxiousness was palpable. "Don't worry," I said. "We'll find her."

"She had dementia,” he said. “That was so hard. Sometimes she didn't know me, but mostly she did." I saw her name and we stopped. Here she is, would you like that photograph now?

Handing me his gold (no cover) iPhone wrapped neatly in a white linen handkerchief, he said "I don't know how to work this, it's new." Carefully unwrapping it, I asked him to unlock it but he quickly gave me the number because he did not know how. As I opened the camera, he wiped a tear and stood beside her name and gently pointed to it while looking tenderly at the granite slab. Taking a few shots, I then took a close up of the marker. I showed him the photos and he was happy for a moment. "So much better than I could have done" he said. He talked a bit about how hard it was to leave her not knowing when he could return. I put my arm around his shoulders and asked quietly, "Would it be ok if I visit her when I come out? I promise to let her know you are thinking of her." The tears were now flowing down both of our faces. "I'd like that" he said. We hugged and I   promised to visit her every time I am here. I could see him relax a bit. He thanked me, and I suggested he try to do something for her birthday today that would have made her happy. We shared one more hug and I thought, "Thank you sir for allowing me to share this tender moment with you.”

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All of our thanks goes to this dedicated volunteer and her colleges at Patriot Plaza who share their gifts with the families and friends of those who have served in our military and in many cases made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and our freedom.

Jim Shirley is the executive director for the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County. 

SCD wants to dance with you this summer!  Get ready to move this summer with Sarasota Contemporary Dance and guest teachers in sunny Sarasota for a week-long dance intensive, unlike any other. The Adult Summer Dance Intensive will be held from July 23-30 at New College of Florida. The intensive is open to high school students through to Professionals (minimum age 13) and classes will be held Sunday-Thursday from 9am-3pm with optional evening rehearsals. Tuition is $400 and dorm housing available on campus for $25/night.  But hurry - you only have until Tuesday May 17 to register.  

Sarasota Contemporary Dance

Through June, Michael's o East will donate a percentage of beverage sales in the restaurant lounge from 5-9 on Monday nights to the Circus Arts Conservatory.   Michael's Happy Hour specials will be extended thoughout the evening diring this special offering, allowing you to enjoy a glass of Michael's Private Label Wines, draft beers or well cocktails for $5 until close each MOnday while supporting the Circus Arts Conservatory.  

Circus Arts Conservatory

The Bradenton Area has seen an increase in visitors, expenditures, economic impact and employment as a result of the area’s visitation, for the fifth year in a row, according to Dr. Walter Klages of Data Research Services and as presented by the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (BACVB). In 2015, County-wide tourism generated $46.9 million in state sales taxes in the Bradenton Area alone – up 8.8 percent from 2014. Total area visitors exceeded 3,015,900 - up 3.4 percent from 2014. Total economic impact of tourism in county was $1,100,184,600 - up 10.6 percent from 2014. Total tourism-related employment opportunities were 24,700 - up 13.8 percent from 2014. The BACVB also reported positive results from the past five years, showing an increase in the following: Area visitors since 2011-12 percent,  Number of tourism-related jobs since 2011–35 percent. Average room rate ($161.9 in 2014) since 2011–22 percent. Total economic impact of tourism in the county since 2011– 44 percent. 

Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

Sarasota Contemporary Dance (SCD) will stage an exciting homecoming to close out its 10th season. Evolving/Revolving will showcase the talents of several past choreographers, June 2-5, at the Jane B. Cook Theater in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts. “Evolving/Revolving remembers young choreographers whose works have graced our stage, as well as choreographers that are nationally celebrated,” said Artistic Director Leymis Bolaños Wilmott. The concert also includes a new work by Erin Fletcher, SCD’s Resident Choreographer. She added, “This show promises to be a tribute to the company’s past with enough energy and passion to fuel us into our 11th season!” “Evolving/Revolving is the apex of our season.”


 

Sarasota Contemporary Dance

On Tuesday, May 17 at 3pm, Goodwill Manasota will break ground on its newest attended donation center, to be located at 2250 Bobcat Village Center Road in North Port, near Toledo Blade Boulevard. The 2,000 square-foot facility will provide southern Sarasota County residents with another convenient location for dropping off donations of unwanted goods. Construction on the new attended donation center in North Port will continue through the summer, with completion expected by winter of 2016. This location will bring the total of Goodwill attended donation centers to 36 in its service area of Sarasota, Manatee, Desoto and Hardee counties. The new facility will employ two team members, and has the potential to increase the number of donations to Goodwill Manasota by more than 12,000 annually. The donation of unwanted items to Goodwill supports programs and services throughout the region, enabling the organization to change lives through the power of work. 

Goodwill Manasota

Come one. Come all. Come and toast John Ringling’s 150th Birthday. The Board of Directors of The John and Mable Ringling Museum Art Foundation is hosting a birthday celebration for John Ringling on Tuesday, May 31 from 5:30-7 pm. Enjoy a champagne toast and light bites. Tickets are $40 per person. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Ca' d'Zan Preservation Fund. The Ringling has determined that goods/services in the amount of $20 will be provided in exchange for each individual ticket purchase.