Early this morning, The RSA posted this report release on Twitter:
In the report, they set out nine first steps in moving to an education system that creates the innovators needed for today’s world.
Step 1 is Building the case for change.
For those who have been in this business of change for many years, it is a struggle to understand why many leaders don’t see the urgency.
This section from page 8, the Executive Summary, explains the situation with such clarity:
Over the past few years, many leaders have told me that as soon as someone starts talking about 21C, or innovation, or technology, or the 6 C’s, they tune out. It doesn’t interest them and they don’t see the value.
For those who have heads that hurt from hitting them against the brick walls of hierarchy, remember the Randy Pausch quote:
Creative leadership requires more than courage, more than dedication. It requires passion and purpose, so don’t give up.
It also requires an understanding of how to carefully defend your position, to find value in your stance, and to clearly communicate that value to those who can make a difference.
Page 60 of the report suggests first steps for building that case.
What a great focus for our work – building a case for change.
Why is it critical to create innovators? Why is it, that a school system designed to build a standardized work force, is not creating the conditions for learning needed for young people in a world where robotics and offshore/global competition have eliminated most manufacturing jobs?
How do we convince leaders to prepare our kids to seize the opportunities that arise when all menial work can be done by machines?
We need creative public leaders who can build this convincing case for change – before we become completely irrelevant.
Featured image from TheRSA.org
Related:
Connecting with the Disconnected – Chris Wejr
Tom Whitby: What is an “Accomplished Administrator” in education?
