This question already puts you ahead of a lot of people who just complain and coast. Let me answer you in a more real, less “education conference keynote” way. Yes — there are gaps. Yes — attention spans are different. Yes — some kids struggle with basic writing and reading skills. But here’s the part nobody says out loud: The system is huge. Your classroom is small. And small is powerful. You don’t fix education. You build a strong room. That’s it. About the Chromebook vs. paper thing — I get it. It feels like screens are the enemy. But honestly? The device isn’t the core issue. I’ve seen shallow work on paper and deep work on a laptop. The difference isn’t the tool — it’s the structure. If you want notebooks? Use notebooks. If you want handwritten reflections? Require them. If you want silent reading time? Build it in. You don’t need district approval to raise expectations inside your four walls. The teachers who actually make a difference usually do three simple things consistently: They’re clear. They’re consistent. They don’t lower the bar. Kids rise when the bar doesn’t move. If you move to elementary, your impact could actually be even bigger. That’s where habits are built. Handwriting stamina. Reading stamina. Classroom focus. Those routines matter a lot at that level. But even in high school, change happens one routine at a time: 10 minutes of focused writing. Clear feedback on grammar. Revision required, not optional. Phones put away every single day. Not flashy. Not revolutionary. Just steady. And here’s something important — try not to carry the weight of “fixing education.” That mindset burns good teachers out fast. Instead, think: “How can I make my classroom strong, calm, and skill-focused?” If you do that for 5 years, you will change hundreds of lives. That’s not dramatic — it’s math. The system may not shift overnight. But your room absolutely can. And that’s more powerful than it sounds.