The mimeographed newspaper at the school I attended eons ago had a column called “Roses and Thorns,” with entries such as “Roses to the football team for beating Mapleton last week” and “Thorns to whoever put the dead mouse in Luanne Thomas’ locker.” Although education today faces issue after issue, often without apparent success – funding, diversity, dropout rates, test scores, student health issues, teacher shortages, technological gaps – there can be many authentic “Roses” to write about, especially in my almost four decades in the classroom.

I have seen enormous progress in the elimination of bullying and hazing. School officials and students are seeing the total wrongness of allowing any person to needlessly fear going to school.

The history and government textbooks used today are far more willing to tell the truth about events such as the treatment of American Indians and blacks. Almost every selection in the literature books I read in school were written by mainstream American or British writers; the book I am using this year has selections from many countries and many cultures.

Very few school lunch programs today feature a dish called “beanie weenies,” the most dangerous meal ever to feed children with a half-day of school ahead.

Beginning teachers are far better prepared today. Education classes and the student teaching process are more appropriate to the real classroom, and many schools have excellent mentoring programs for new teachers.

Schools have made the great moral decision, aided by the federal government, to plan programs for those students who cannot function in a traditional classroom. A recent graduation I attended featured diplomas for dropouts and single mothers who were able to attend classes at night through a program called Bridges High School, as well as diplomas from an alternative magnet school serving three school districts.

When my wife attended school, there were no competitive sports for girls, and boys took shop while girls took home economics. Our daughter participated in volleyball, basketball, track and softball; most schools today have no classes that cannot be taken by either boys or girls.

The Internet allows schools of all sizes and locations to access information and opportunity. Many graduates this spring will have as much as a year of college already completed, through online, AP and extension classes.

More schools are requiring staffs to be trained for special circumstances: Most coaches are required to be proficient in emergency medical procedures, teachers are being trained to recognize signs of mental or physical abuse, as well as the proper reporting procedures, and procedures are in place for lockdowns or disasters.

Any teacher, administrator or parent can easily match every one of the progressive “roses” I have mentioned with examples of the weaknesses and turmoil evident in American education. I just wanted to point out that positive change happens, but usually not overnight. Perspective gives us proof that the roses really exist.

– Werner Anderson teaches English as Bishop Seabury Academy and has been an educator for more than 30 years.