uncertainty

  • Big Assumptions, Big Risks

    ByAllen Reding

    The decision to reopen schools came with a sense of urgency, as if the only way forward was to return to “normal.” But it was normal with masks, daily health checks, and a lot of uncertainty. Parents and teachers were left to balance the promises of stability with the real risks of exposure. The trade-off wasn’t just numbers on a chart—it was people’s lives and livelihoods. Thinking about the choice between online-only learning and returning to regular classes reminds me of a scenario I share with my economics classes: Assume you could put seatbelts on every new school bus produced … Read more

  • Standing Strong in the Chaos

    ByAllen Reding

    God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. Psalm 46:1-2   Four years ago, I stepped back into my school building alongside my fellow teachers, returning for the first time since we’d left for spring break in March 2020. COVID-19 was still in full force, and our return was marked by uncertainty, anxiety, and a sense that everything could change at a moment’s notice. Reflecting on those days now, I’m struck by how profoundly that season reshaped not … Read more