Leaders Least Likely

Are there leaders that you admire but who cause inner conflict?

Odd topic for a blog, but here is the lowdown on this idea. Ever realize that you sometime may admire someone who goes against much of what you seem to believe? Give this some thought and see if you can come up with one to share. For me it is President Richard Nixon. President Nixon seems to embody most of what I don’t like about politicians. According to historical accounts he was a hypocrite, he was a liar, he was a bully, he seemed to have little or no discernable ethical foundation, he tried to keep John Lennon out of the United States while giving Elvis some kind of badge regarding the war on drugs, and yes Virginia, he was a crook. Yet, and this is painful to admit in public, I admired him in some ways. His administration ended the Vietnam War, even if he could have done it earlier, he at least did it; he recognized the largest county in the world (China) as a county and opened relations with them via a series of ping pong matches, thus the title ping pong diplomacy; he seems to have been much more environmentally savvy than subsequent presidents (with the possible exception of President Jimmy Carter), he had a plan to deal with gas shortages; and he appeared on Rowen and Martin’s Laugh In during the late sixties with the line “Sock it to me” but his delivery made it sound like a question.....it really was good humor, especially given the unrelenting attention paid to him by the show often through the work of Lilly Tomlin. Not to mention the Watergate hearings provided some of the best live daytime television drama ever produced.

Yet, I keep being drawn back to the reality of Neil Young singing “tin solders and Nixon coming, we’re finally on our own, this summer I hear the drumming, four dead in Ohio”. Maybe it will finally come a time when we got to get down to it again. So, is my admiration for a man that so runs counter to my personal political beliefs curable? Or is it wise to seek to understand the ways and wisdom of those that seemingly define our opposite side?

Now you know mine, at some level I admire some of what Richard Nixon did. So who is your nominee for the leader least likely?

Leaders who defy, not define traditional leadership

Leadership that defies explanation

This blog is for you to think about, and ultimately choose a leader that in your way of thinking about leadership is an outlier. The term outlier in this case means to exist outside rational thought regarding leadership. Perhaps such an example would be Abraham Lincoln. How many of his contemporizes would have predicted in 1845 that Lincoln would be considered one of, if not the greatest of all American presidents? If I recall correctly (yes, I could just fact check here, but that takes the fun out of working with memory) Mr. Lincoln had a difficult time getting elected to anything, he was married to an unusual woman who enjoyed a good séance as well as any of our first ladies, and from some historical accounts they could have filmed the movie Paranormal Activity in the White House during the years he was there....wait a minute, this is President Reagan....but you get the point. Presently it could be argued that we have political actors on the national stage that fit well within this genre. While not identifying any of these specific politicians I will offer that it is possible that both major political parties would have its share of Oscar nominees in several of the major political actor categories. This can be good, it can be bad, and it can be incredibly goofy. But, evidently one person’s goof is another person’s proof. Not sure what that means, but we do have some really odd political characters these days. But, hey, history has its share as well. So, think of one and share. They do not have to be goofy, they can be profound, just unexpected by who they were/are, or what they did/do.

Mine is Joan of Arc. I have a long standing fascination with this leader. This is not to be confused with the notion that I have a comprehensive historical understanding of her, but I think I have enough of the major points down that indicate she was not your average early 1400s leader. She was poor, she was French, she had no followers on Facebook, and she didn’t put on a wig and turn into Joanna Montana. Rather she was a peasant, a girl, and someone who claimed to have visions from God.

But before we pass this off as lunacy, as the English would later do as they burned her at the stake at a tender age of 19 let’s consider a few other facts. Before the English burned her at the stake she somehow managed to lead French army to several major victories over them during the Hundred Years War. But, legend has it she still threw like a girl. Just don’t tell that to the Englishmen who fell from the hand that threw like a girl.

Still, isn’t it amazing that she did all that she did and we still can’t explain it. I mean, why would seasoned solders follow a teen aged girl into combat? And, if she did, how is it possible that she lead them to victory? I don’t recall her attending la West a’Pointa? And, the Citadel was not accepting girls into their freshman class then. And, for this business of talking to God, is there anyone ready to tell me for sure she didn’t? I mean that would explain a lot. Actually that would explain it all, but it would not be without its own share of problems, just ask John Denver. There will be bonus points for those of you who connect the dots that lead from Joan of Arc to John Denver. I mean it’s not like Joan lived in almost Heaven, my home state of West Virginia. And let me close by mentioning Joan is the subject of some great music nearly 200 years after her death at the hands of the non believing English. Two of my personal favorite singer/songwriters, Leonard Cohen and Kate Bush, wrote compelling songs about her.

But, I leave you with this image from the poetry of J. Walden Elliott

The Chosen Joan

By J. Walden Elliott

The battle is subsiding, many are bleeding, more are dying.
Joan is alone and crying.
Tears not of weakness, but tears of compassionate strength.
Not death to the English, or death to the French,
instead the unfortunate of humanity dancing helpless on her sword
that tis blessed by the Hand of the Lord..
While in her head remains the ringing, all of the singing,
the bells yet toiling, the blood set flowing
as the maiden hears the voice that whispers among the shouts
saying go forward my Chosen, accept you can’t stop the suffering,
or still the doubts.
Yes, ever forewarned and forever forward cries the Lord.
A Lord not of the rings, a Lord not of things,
But a Lord of vengeance and saving grace
that choose to look upon the face
that leaves the dead to the dying and the dying to the dead,
and the visions of salvation in a young girls head.
And amide the furry of the fire
And of the longing desire
Only to be Joan.
Joan, sweet Joan.
Leading and leaving you so alone.
amide the furry of the fire
quenching the longing desire.

Tag you’re it.

What's on your mind?

No long epistle here, just an invitation for you to start any conversation you want in regard to educational organizations and the people who inhabit them.  What hot topic is on your mind?

And now a word about elephants and school reform

We hear it all the time, especially during election years. We need to reform education.

Maybe we do need to make some changes. Maybe we need to move backwards and away from some of the reforms already initiated. Maybe we need to completely rethink the way we educate our children. Maybe we need to stand firm and keep what we have. Maybe we need to take the stand that yes, there is lots we need to do, or could do, but we simply do not have the resources to get the job done in the way it needs. If so, say it.

In this blog you will find a links to three YouTube posts that reflect some thoughts regarding school reform.  One of them refers to "elephants in the room" when we talk about school reform. Does his ideas create any thoughts with you individually and collectively?  All three posts are self explanatory.

Watching these short videos brings to my mind the work of Ruby Payne.  If you are not familiar with her wort I feel it is worth you while.  In this age of seemingly endless criticism of public education I feel it is worth all educators time and effort to become familiar with her work.

But for now, sit back, grab a drink and see if you see the elephants the gentleman in the first video is referring too. And while you are at it see if you see others he may have missed.  There are two other videos posted as well that may spur thought.  You will also notice that YouTube will list related videos that may be of interest.  I do not necessarily endorse any of the videos, or the thoughts embedded within them, but I do feel many of them are worthy of consideration and discussion. 

Anyway, here are the links for this blog:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw03BU7xTyw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uMAe2U7zdw&feature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syyZhK2Wc_Q&feature=related

Now, where did I put those peanuts?

Let's Talk About Visionary Leadership

FROM HERE

TO

HOW?

Looking back to time time I graduated from high school in 1970 I wonder how my school administrators could have possibly conceived the world in which my children would live and learn. Schools in 1970 do not come close to meeting the needs of children in 2007, yet in some ways little has changed inside the scared walls of learning. In other ways we have witnessed a total revolution in the way we talk about teaching and learning.  And as we are busily about the business of changing the way we teach in the brave new world of education I am not sure the way we learn has changed.
 
So many problems confront educators. While we are often faced with the challenges of making it through an average day the fact remains that we need to be visionaries. We need to know how to plan and design educational institutions that will not only meet the needs of children of today, but as the Moody Blues sang, to our children's children's children.

If you are taking this class you are preparing yourself to become one of our society's most important leaders regardless if you remain on the local level or are catipolted into a state or national areana.  Do you believe this?  If not, why?  If so, are you ready for the responsibilities that come with the leadership positions that you have, and/or aspire to?  I trust the answer is yes.  Frankly if you are not ready you need to step out of the way even before you get in the way. Don't be one of the characters of the Bob Dylan song that blocks up the hall. If you don't want to lead us into the future, please do not attempt to lead us back into the past or keep us in the present. Neither are acceptable any longer for our schools. Yet, having said that we must move into the future as educational leaders you are also one of the protectors of all things sacred, and to the preservers of those things that need to be preserved. Are you capable of doing that as well?

Ah, a paradox....lead us into the future while preserving those thing from the past and present that we must keep. Those things we must hold precious and never let go. Those things that we will need as much in the future as we need now. Just as those of us today need things from yesterday as we set our couse squarely into the face of the future.

So, paradoxical thinkers and grasshoppers (bonus points for those of you that can ID this reference) here is the task for this blog: Find some quiet time and reflect. Tap into your sense of vision and leadership and then relate that to us here.

Once you have reflected upon the topic examine and respond to any of these questions to ignite our collective creative spark:

• What will schools look like in the future?
• Will we need schools in the future, or will computer terminals in our homes be enough?
• Will we still need books?
• What skills and knowledge must we retain as we consider educating the children of the future?
• Will they still need to know how to read and write, or will computers do all of that for us?
• Do we really need to know our multiplication tables?
• Are there any other thoughts you may have, and surely you do.

So, here is yet one more opportunity to think your way into the future. Better hurry, it is on the way. In some places tomorrow is already here. Where are you?

References to consider (please add your own to this list):

The book Future Shock by Alvin Toffler
The album (CD to you young folks) To Our Children's Children's Children by the Moody Blues
The song In the year 2929 by Seager and Evans
The movie The Matrix

Here are some YouTube posts that deal with the subject.  What do you think about them?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opXKmwg8VQM
This is a film from the 1940s regarding progressive education at the time.  The clip includes a brief part of a lecture being given by John Dewey. It is the only time I can recall actually "seeing" Mr. Dewey speak. It also has a couple other well know professors from Columbia debating "progressive education".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fnh9q_cQcUE&NR=1
A post about our changing world and education

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L2XwWq4_BY&NR=1
A post regarding 21st century learning from Library of Congress and Colorado

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOXWFFiotNk&feature=related
Schools of the future with Microsoft being a consultant. Does reality clash with the ideal here? How?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBKFaZze33c&feature=related
This posting about schools of the future primarily for your enjoyment, but does it have a sense of reality behind the satire?

As educational administrators you will be ask to lead us into the future, and I have just one question for you: Got vision?

New School

There can be little doubt that education is being restructured by the advent of emerging technologies. It can be argued that this is not new, and that technology has always restructured the way humans educate themselves.

Yet it can also be argued that there is something fundamentally different between the introduction of the printing press and the Internet. It is a given that the printing press is not the only technological advance before to alter education, but it clearly is an example of a technological advance that eventually completely restructured the way we teach and learn. It is also clear that education is altered by recent technological advances other then the Internet, such as computers that are not attached to the Internet.

Regardless this blog is designed to capture the student’s perspective in regard to on online teaching and learning. It seems that often the students’ perspective has not been fully included as models of online learning are implemented.

So, it is the purpose of this blog to offer students an opportunity to offer their thoughts regarding this topic. It is also hoped that this blog will lend itself to participants responding to what others say in regard to educational offerings that are at least partially offered online.

While it is clear that this blog can be viewed by anyone who finds there way to the site it is still a goal that students will feel a sense of freedom to offer their comments without fear of any kind of retribution. This is to say that I hope that you will speak openingly and honestly rather than trying to write what you feel others (primarily professors) want to read.

While anything relevant to online learning can be discussed it is specifically hoped that students will help identify the primary concepts of online learning as it relates to them. This is a wide range of considerations such as what makes up the necessary components of online work? What are your personal opinions of online work versus face to face work? What are the most important attributes for both student and instructors to have when working online? Should students be required by the University to have specific equipment, connections, etc in order to take classes online.

These are suggestions, not absolutes. Please think and respond as to any topics you feel are relevant and should be considered when taking/teaching online.

This blog seeks a health session of asynchronous brainstorming, not definitive answers to this new educational science. Tag, you’re it.

A Novel Approach to Educational Leadership

Write Clicking in a left brain world

As most of you know, or some of you know, or maybe at least one of you has heard a rumor that the Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University is founded in a constructivist model of education. To be honest, this was one of the draws to AppState for me. I like the fact that students, especially graduate students' education is built upon the knowledge and experience that they already have as well as learning with, and from, other students and their professors. This dispels the professor as fountain of knowledge format that is so often found in higher education. I honestly say to you that I learn from you every time we are together, and that I take great delight in watching you learn from each other.

Also, as most of you know, I enjoy exploring the avaunt guard aspects of education. I think that education should be fun when possible and smothered with creativity when possible. Furthermore I think this should be very possible in most aspects of graduate school. I want students to think, not regurgitate facts that they have been fed. So, it is with that introduction that I am introducing this new assignment. Some of you will no doubt think I have lost my mind, but hey, you are too late, I lost it long ago probably during my second superintendency or one of the rock bands I played in.

However, I digress, and as you all know by this time, I can digress with the best of them. So, with that long winded introduction let me introduce this latest academic challenge to you. I have long wanted to try this, but I have never felt that I had the right ensemble of students to work it with, I think that at this time I do. It is up to you to prove me right, and dad gum it (an old WV saying) you'd better.
In a way it is perfect in that we will be drawing from the minds and experience from three cohorts separated by geography, but joined in common spirit and sense of purpose. All three groups are also academically talented, creative, while bringing to the table different experiences and backgrounds.

This assignment could fall flat, or it could be something that catches on and is enjoyed by the vast majority of you. Only time will tell. Some of you have told me that you are not creative, and I do not accept that as being true. You may not believe you are creative, but each of us create every day.

So, just relax, and enjoy this even if you do not participate in it to a significant degree. In order to be a part of this assignment you will have to read every post and respond at least once.

What I propose we do is to write a fictitious novel about schools and school administration. Never before in the history of mankind (doesn't this sound exciting already?) has a novel had so many authors. There will be about fifty of us. Yes, it sounds to good to be true I know, and it may talking a walk on the weird side of Academic Avenue, but humor me. Remember, it is me that gives your grade.....yeah, I know, it is beginning to sound like a good idea now, huh? :)

What do I want us to gain from this? Well, to have fun, but most of all to make you think. If this goes anywhere close to how I want it to go we will introduce many concepts to be considered and many problems to be solved. This should make you think as you introduce, as well as solve problems that we create for our characters.

Here's how it works. First, we have to create an initial set of characters for our story. So, it is very important that you remember those words of wisdom that every work of fiction has posted as a disclaimer......all similarities to anyone living or dead is purely circumstantial.....sure, we will base stuff on real people and events, but please, please, please, do not use this as a means to slander anyone in anyway. For example.....our social studies teacher was a little guy with a red beard and strawberry blond curly hair who loved coffee and mountain dew and could never stand still as he taught and his name was Hal Moffit, and he was weird and made his students do things that upset them as well as the school's administrators.......OK? If you use the little red haired people of the world that have beards, at least mask it, unless of course they become the superhero loved by all. But, the fact is we learn from both good and bad examples, and they will surely make their way into this work.
Our story will have three schools (to keep it manageable and give everyone a reference point). A high school, a middle school and an elementary school. Regardless of your leaning and position you can write in regard to any of them.
Rules about posting: When you post, you have to keep it short. Usually one paragraph, or one brief segment such as a short dialogue. Then let the next person have a shot. Always build upon what it said in that last post. If you want the story line to take a particular twist you will have to pay attention and work it, but only one post at a time.
Second rule, you cannot post two consecutive posts. You have to let someone else post in response to yours.
Try to use decent grammar, but don't get tore up if you post something that is not 100 percent correct. Pay attention to the story as a whole, and interject problems into the story that others will work to solve. You can use slang that students, or people in your community use.
Work to create and solve problems presented through the characters we create. If you need, create another character. Do not worry about bringing closure to each problem before moving on, just like life. And feel free to bring problems back into being that were left unsolved, or if they were solved, they could be reintroduced with a new wrinkle or twist.
Do not be afraid to introduce sensitive issues, because we deal with sensitive issues. Issues of sexual content need not be graphic, but we deal with them in these jobs, do we not? Teachers have affairs, kids have sex, etc. It is a fact of our jobs, and not to deal with them is a form of vanilla that is just not real.
The same is true with racial content, drug content, poverty, abuse of different kinds, etc. I am not wanting this to be porn and/or gore, but I want it to be real. If you never deal with these issues then you are either lucky or just unaware. Do not sensationalize it, but be real, and sometimes it is an honest fact that truth is stranger than fiction.
So, to get us started I think we minimally need the following characters: principals, assistant principals, a bunch of teachers, some coaches, secretaries, custodians, cooks, SROs, bus drivers, students, parents, a superintendent, others from the central office, maybe a business leader or two and anybody else I have left off this list that you want to created.
As we create these characters we can also be developing the story line. After writing this I will start the story. Then it is your turn.
I have no way of knowing how this will go, but let's just see. Do not hesitate to participate, and remember that I want every one of you to post at least once, and I am hoping that you get carried away and become a regular contributor. Check in often and read what is going on in the story.
We may need to modify it, and 3 schools may be hard to keep up with. Maybe we should have two, but in my experience systems have these three kinds of schools, and each of us can identify with at least one of them.
Do not get upset if someone takes a character you created and moves him/her in a way that you had not envisioned. We all have global ownership here, but none of us have specific ownership to any aspect of the story.
Sound weird? Good. Sound goofy? Even better. Sound fun? I hope. Careful or you may even find yourself thinking.
Remember the works of Ralph Waldo Spacier, who said...."Together we all stand divided, and divided we all stand falling together".
For those of you with your mouth open going....Oh My Gosh, I can't believe I paid for this class, I will be posting more left brained kinds of blogs too. But for the time being, message that right temporal lobe and lets get started.
Ready kids?
______________________________________

Further Up the Down Staircase

A novel for our time

by

Avery Juan Ofus

Chapter One: Rainy Days and Mondays always get me

It was a normal Monday morning. Well, as normal as Monday mornings go when you work at Owlberg Middle School. School secretary, Mrs. C.J. McTiny, a middle aged women pleasant in looks and careful about her appearence, and most of the time pleasant in nature looked troubled as she hung up the phone. She turned to Auther Tinsdale, one of the seventh grade language arts teachers checking his mail during the early morning hustle and bustle of the office. As she walked from behind her desk she whispered to Mr. Tinsdale "Mr. Overton is not going to like this one little bit. He had a bad week last week, and I had hoped it was all getting better, but this won't help."
Mr. Tinsdale, being somewhat smug in his lack of sympathy for administrators in general, and Mr. Overton in particular replied "Why, is it something that may pry him away from the swimsuit issue of Sport's Illustrated and no model left behind?" As he laughed to himself proud of his Monday morning sarcasm Mrs. McTiny gave him a look usually reserved for eight graders who mumble 'I dunno' to any question they are asked. She was not sure why she had mentioned anything at all to 'Art the Tart' as she so often thought of Mr. Tinsdale, but had never verbalized to anyone. Pushing past him she headed for Mr. Overton's office knocking on his opened door. "Excuse me, Bob. I just received a call you need to be aware of."
Bob, looking up from the report he was working on smiled and replied "Sure, C.J., come in." The smile was to be short lived. He took another sip of his coffee that put the cup back down on the most recent issue of Sport's Illustrated that he was using for a coaster. Mrs. McTiny closed the door and sat down wondering how to tell her boss the news she had just been given.