| Need A Few Good Head Masters
by
Daniel J. Dyman, Ed.D.
Some noble effort has been made to shorten the school year but for not the right reason. “Knocking ten days off the school year could save districts $28 million in transportation costs.”
Knocking ten days off the school year could save the child and perhaps $28 million but was the first mistake making schools economically too big so that the brunt of the budget is devoted to transportation rather than education?
In my day, we started school after Labor Day and ended before Memorial Day. We started after the Sun had risen above the trees and ended before the Sun had set. We walked to school and learned to appreciate and value others as we did walk along. We were able to smell the flowers along a path to learning. With considerably less “seat time,” those of my generation at least had achieved landing on the Moon.
Perhaps today’s demand for competence is more than can be expected and more has in reality become less. Certainly, everyone counts and no one should be left behind. We should devote some time to trying to find out which direction we need to be going before we embark. It is not too late to restructure to the benefit of all.
In my day, schools were not the designed to be efficient monstrosities of today that epitomize mismanagement. All could be accomplished with neighborhood schools and a central office of general oversight doing away with all of the replication of services. The adage is true. We just keep doing what we do because we do.
The focus for improvement needs to be shifted.
Rules, regulations, demands, and impositions have made school too rigid, unyielding, and overbearing. Kids go to school more to be with their friends than they go to discover and learn.
Teachers need more time to get better at their jobs. The job of a teacher is to explain and to make sure that every student does understand. They need to make every concept as simple as possible without making it too simple. They need to develop skills and techniques that reflect their noble intent. That is, they need to inspire learning, to above all help kids learn.
Dependence on the Master Minds of Education has gone on too long. The focus should be different. Confidence should be granted to the resources that have been set in place and have been put to work. Calling in experts for a day to do some telling is not the answer. Teachers by conducting personal research and sharing their findings can accomplish much more. Enabled, they could firsthand determine what works for them and what does not. At least, they would be able to individually figure out and further develop the methods whereby success in the classroom is achieved.
The force of will and the application of fear are not the answers for those students who need personal help for whatever problems direct their behavior. They do have inherent worth. Recognize it and appropriately deal with whatever may hold them back. Help every student through personal growth and development programs to become a Good Citizen of Earth.
Above all, give up on the notion of a Principal in charge. Most are mediocre. Most focus on the control over populations of students. That is not effective. In reality what is most needed is a Head Master, one who understands the circumstances of education, the climate of teaching and learning. Schools need a person at the top who can coordinate every instructional critical aspect so that every essential element is appropriately presented enabling maximization of outcomes.
2/12/09
Dyman Associates
27916 Crestview Drive
Elkhart, IN 46517
574.295.9098
http://www.DymanAssociates.com
Creation date : 13/02/2009 @ 18:43
Last update : 13/02/2009 @ 18:43
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