As education leaders, how do we convince our parent communities, our Trustees, our students themselves, of this (7)?
Because this really is the most important measure of accountability isn’t it? That this school, this system, is the very best place for your child to learn on this day (4), and this school and this system is innovating in every way possible to ensure your child’s gifts are uncovered, nurtured, scaffolded and unleashed.
Mary Jean Gallagher tells us that schools must be places where children can realize their “best possible, most richly-imagined future” (Jan. 17, 2014, Toronto)
As an education leader (6), what compelling arguments do you have for the innovative practices – foreign to parents who experienced the linear, industrial model of school – being used to personalize learning for their child?
We know that compelling arguments are a critical first step for change. Without compelling arguments (2), traditionalists will shut down, stop listening (3), move on down the same path of a system that produces a ranking of individuals, filtering those who are different out of the picture.
Do you talk to parents about how the popular narrative that “robots are taking over the world” isn’t something they can just ignore any more, that good jobs really have already disappeared offshore and to automation through robotics and 3D printers (5)? This is why we educate our students to take advantage of the cognitive opportunities that arise when menial work becomes mechanized and digitized.
Perhaps the argument that the school system as they knew it, did not achieve positive outcomes for all children, and that disengagement (1) in secondary school is a national tragedy that must be changed, would resonate with your community.
Perhaps the democratization of the system is most important – creating a school community where all members have voice and choice that is not constrained by outdated structures like timetables and limited course selections.
How do you share what you know about innovative practice with your school community? Do you learn openly, share openly, question openly?
Sharing your compelling arguments with other leaders may be the best step you can take today to help spread system change.
Communicating effectively about the need for radical change is critical role for our education leaders.
Featured image by Tina Zita via Royan Lee CC-BY-NC-SA-2.0
References and Resources:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
