Today is the Fourth of July, so this is a short one.
On July 4, 1776, the thirteen colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence and chose to become their own country. It was a bold and uncertain thing to do, and the people who signed it were betting on an idea more than a sure outcome. This year marks 250 years since that day, which makes it a bigger Fourth than most, and a good reason to look up from the work for a minute.
There is a thread in here that matters to anyone who works in a school. The founders argued, loudly and often, that a free country only holds together if its people are educated. An informed public was not a nice-to-have to them, it was the entire point. So if you spend your days keeping the technology running for teachers and students, you are part of that long project, whether it feels like it or not.
For today, put the tickets down. Enjoy the holiday, get outside with the people you like, and eat more than you should. Be safe with the fireworks, the grill, and the drive home. The fleet will still be there on Monday.
Happy Fourth, and happy 250th.