ASKING QUESTIONS, EXPLORING OPTIONS, CHANGING THE IMPACT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.

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Preparing For The Long Haul.

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I drove to meet friends in New Orleans last weekend.  From Houston, this is a six-hour trip, one way.  The traffic congestion in Houston took a while to clear but eventually I was on the open road.  Mmmm… I really like the open road.  You have a broad view of where you are and where you are going (unless you are behind a big SUV).  The horizon stretches out before you, you are the master of your destiny and you are going somewhere…

Driving on a longer trip instills a different mindset for me than my usual commuter and errand runs.  If something goes wrong, I’m not near anyone I know.  So, I make sure that I have enough gas.  I check my tires for air.  If there is a major item that needs repair, I address it before I leave home.  I have a general game plan for my route.  And, I set the pace, the starts, the stops and I enjoy the destination.

As I make my way, I get to know other drivers.  Sometimes I find a small group of cars who are running the same speed and we form a loose camaraderie.   Other times, I drive along independently.  As I drove, I was struck with the idea of how this matches education.  Do we have a commuter mindset or a long-haul mindset when we think about the education system?  Are we even conscious of the difference?

Many educators lament the tests and accountability as the downfall of public education.  One friend recently forwarded the blog apology from a teacher in New York State to her students.  As I was partially educated in NY (grades 7-12), I read it.   Ruth Ann Dandrea wrote:

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A Reflection On Sir Ken Robinson’s Lecture.

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It has been a week since Sir Ken Robinson came to Houston to share his thoughts on creativity.  Apparently, one can’t just imagine good ideas to be considered creative.  You actually have to do something with your ideas.  I wonder what those of you who attended the lecture (or watched his videos) have taken away from his ideas.  Please share!

One idea of many that resonated with me was a quote by Anais Nin: The day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.

When I think of this with respect to education, I wonder how long we will tolerate the status quo in many areas before we make a change.  Change can be hard.  Many factors can contribute to an initiative failing.  Leaders take a risk to set a new course.

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Learners First.

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Isn’t exciting to learn something new?  I have vague remembrances of getting the balance right on my bicycle.  It must have happened because I can still do it.  However, I definitely remember learning to ice-skate and to ride a skateboard because I was a bit older and I fell. A lot. About a year ago, I learned how to drive.  Well, I’ve actually been driving for years but I taught my daughter.  In the process, I really had to learn again.  Some things change, like where you are supposed to hold the wheel.  Others, stay the same, like how you make a turn.  I experienced the somewhat uncomfortable sensation of accelerating into a turn and I had to quickly dissect the anatomy of the turn, keep my voice calm and instruct.  Ahhhh… learning is fun.  I’ve found that I learn quickly when there is a bit of pain involved.

Building a new leadership development program requires learning.  I have a few bruises from the experience to be sure.

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What Is Working.

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I had a Facebook message today from my daughter’s second grade teacher.  She was “our” favorite teacher, not just my daughter’s but also mine.  Every day, she met the students at the classroom door.  High fives and smiles met those somewhat sleepy faces causing the energy levels to rise.  In short order, the children were reading, acting out characters (my daughter was Tigger and she mastered the growl, I’m playing it in my mind now) and going about the process of learning.  Each day was fresh and the routines provided stability.  Ahhh, the wonder years…  I miss this teacher.  Her impact, made over a decade ago, is timeless.

I often make small talk to children and young adults about their education.

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Football and Education.

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Football and Education.

I watched more football this weekend than I normally do.  Perhaps it was the rain that finally graced our communities that drove me inside.  It seemed that every time I turned my head, that there was an interception.  Chaos took over the field for those brief seconds, until both sides figured out what had happened.  I wondered briefly if I ought not to watch.  Was it coincidence that these turnovers happened every time I tuned in?   Superstitions aside, I knew I was not the cause.  The teams have the best football players in the world vying to win.  When such forces collide, it is inevitable that the unexpected happens.  Still, the game settles down, and with different strategies, the teams continue to play the game.

So, how does this play into education?

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