A War for Wellbeing

Date Posted: March 30, 2020

Posted In: Discussion,

by Art McCoy II, Ph.D, Superintendent of Schools, Jennings School District

We are not worriers.  WE ARE WARRIORS!  This is a WAR for WELLBEING.

Let us not confuse wellbeing with wellness. Wellness is about mental and physical health. Wellbeing is about all things related to being well or welfare—health and wellness, money, services from housing to water, education, rights, liberty, and access, etc.

This situation brought about a unique and needed form of “warfare for wellbeing” or “warfare for welfare.” It is biological, political, educational, psychological, societal, and spiritual.

Many of us are responding AS IF there is an active shooter, everywhere: running, hiding, and fighting. That is not enough.

America has the most COVID-19 cases (140,000+), and we have not peaked, yet. America has the most privilege and wealth. Also, America has some of the most inequities.

During this global pandemic, we are learning a lot about welfare. We are learning:

• how to wait
• our connectivity and how the actions of one can affect billions
• proper sanitization and personal hygiene. (Have you ever had to say to a person, “please change your gloves,” or “wash your hands”?)
• how to cook and eat in
• how much our first responders must do
• how critical health professionals and healthcare are to society
• the importance of public schools and education institutions
• to work from home (continue to make ends meet)
• how to work on our wellness and mindset, even while we wait for the Stay-at-Home orders to lift (It’s a pleasure to serve on Governor Parson’s Missouri COVID-19 Taskforce)
• the pros and cons of privilege (Remember when you could do as you pleased or come and go anywhere when you wanted.)
• about social safety nets like food hubs, free utilities, and more (wellbeing as welfare).

Some “good” is always present, even amid warfare.

I am so glad that during this political season, the speeches have stopped, temporarily, and now it is all about actions. Stop arguing and lead! Do something!

I am so glad not to see a school shooting in the US anywhere for weeks. It is not happening.

I am so glad not to see looting and rioting in the streets.

I am so glad to see unity, even among many enemies. Crooked places are being made straight.

Even our national government showed bipartisanship with $2,000,000,000,000 (trillion) of pubic treasure going to the people. People in each SES class can access additional private funds and services for various needs (safety nets), from housing, water, utilities, food, to technology.

There have always been many reasons for war. I have dedicated my life and decades of service, warring against ignorance as a professional educator. It is my hope and the desire of many that things DO NOT return to normal, but rather be forever better than before. I hope that every bit of wisdom, care, and collaboration required to overcome this situation last far beyond my lifetime.

In the spirit of warring for WELLBEING, the oppression from COVID19 currently applies to all, not just people of color, different ethnic origins, religions….creed.

Through this pandemic, we are learning that our CREEDS must become DEEDS to meet everyone’s NEEDS if we plan to SUCCEED.

When we do this well, we will win. Historically, we may birth a 21st century reconstruction period. This pandemic will reveal and shape our character. It will also define us and all humanity in this decade, century, and era throughout all ages.

WE SHALL OVERCOME! WE MUST BE BETTER THAN BEFORE.