From the Trenches...

Politicians as Educational Repairmen? Not a Chance! - Duke Kelly

Politicians as Educational Repairmen? Not a Chance! By Duke Kelly

This article is not going to be nearly as "academic" as many of the recent posts. Instead of planning what I am going to say with this issue, I am just going to write as if I were having a conversation. This topic is slightly sensitive so please know it is not my intention to offend anyone. I merely wish to encourage discussion about our important profession. Yes...I am going to bring up the issue of politics!

I am proposing some ground rules for comments because it is so close to election day. Any post mentioning or referencing any politician, legislation or party will be removed by me as soon as it is discovered. I understand that we CAN have an intelligent discussion while mentioning the above, but too often, things turn so personal and partisan that the real points are hard to sift out of the rhetoric. Also, try to build on the discussion and comments of others as if we were in the same room together. We just might discover some helpful themes as we move through the mess of politics and education.

Let's begin!

My major question is: Can ANY presidential administration or political party really improve education (again...in general)? I mean, face it, how much success of any student can really be attributed to the federal government? After all, only about 7% of education funding comes from the federal government. (The exact percentage varies from state to state...source Hoover Institution) Granted, there could be social policy that impacts education, but it is my contention that the impact is minimal compared to other factors. Yet, all major candidates talk about what they are going to do to improve education...puzzling. Please note that post secondary education may be an argument of its own and we will leave it out of this discussion.

I am not sure that money has much to do with the success anyway. There have been MANY projects toying with injecting major funds into schools with little or no success. The largest impact on the success of a student, in my experience, is their family. This seems obvious to many, but a foggy connection to some. This may turn some of you off, but I am willing to take the risk...Here is a generality: If you show me a loving home (no matter how much money) with emphasis placed on doing things together, spending time together, and talking to each other in a meaningful way every day and I will show you a student with a high chance for success. I have taught in an inner-city school as well as a rather "well-to-do" suburban school and this "rule" holds true in both places. Are there exceptions? Duh. I still stand by the fact that this rule generally holds. When we compare test scores with other countries (and everyone tries to make us look stupid), we never compare family structure (not just a traditional nuclear family, but who is involved such as aunts, cousins, neighbors, etc...), communication habits, or other extremely critical social factors that influence the education of children. What can politicians do about that? I think all they can do is make it worse. There are policies (from BOTH political parties) that can leave people with LESS time to spend with their children.

If you haven't guessed, I don't believe the November election will do anything to improve schools. I am not being cynical and this has not a single thing to do with any candidate, I just don't believe there is a system in place to fix what needs to be fixed.

I will rephrase the question so you can begin to comment: Does the federal government have any chance of improving education?

I look forward to your comments!

Thank you for your continued support,

Duke R. Kelly

Education Illustrated LLC - CEO

http://www.edapple.com 

Leadership Initiative: Turning Resistance into Action

Leadership Initiative: Turning Resistence into Action - Duke Kelly, Education Illustrated LLC

(Special report for managers, principals, teacher leaders and staff developers....everyone is free to enjoy it, however!)

[There are Action Steps and Exercises related to this article]

"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools talk because they have to say something"

-Plato

Leaders have a natural tendency when it comes to introducing and suggesting change. They fire up the hype machine and attempt to deliver a knock 'em dead speech or internal marketing campaign focused on the future, on the possibilities, on the bounty of unimaginable wonder that exists just on the other side of the mountain.

What some change agents aren't taking into account, however, is that many people are focused on the hill - on the challenge and difficulty - and can become even more anxious and resistant to making the climb you're asking them to make.

Sure, there will be early adopters that make it seem as though the initiatives are being met with open arms. Leaders tend to hear their voices the loudest, allowing the positive feedback to overshadow the questions of those who remained in the back of the room whispering to one another. It is a common, but misleading, act for the leader to hear the voices of acceptance loudest. Those that are easiest to convince provide such sweet song. Equally, if not more, important are the people who do not accept, those who are not willing to change. Persuading those who reject the initiative needs much attention, not to mention...a new way to rally and bring everyone aboard.

The chief question is this: Is your change initiative something that has an important emotional effect on people? Even if extremely "by the numbers" and without-a-doubt logical, many will not support your initiative if it does not have a component of emotional appeal. Giving a motivational talk or briliantly designed handout will mean very little to those with a strong emotional rejection to your plan.

You need to bring your change to action with the resisters with small, incremental, and highly positive steps. Allowing them to “dip their toes” into the change initiative with an assured positive outcome will make it easier to convince them to put their whole foot in. Next thing you know their up to their knees…you get the picture.  You’ve now involved them in the process in a way that is comfortable and positive. They’ve now stopped digging their heels in, and are instead digging their hands in.  Here are some key aspects and techniques to help you achieve success.

• Take Baby Steps: Yes, you want everyone to eagerly gobble up your new plans and launch their hearts and souls into supporting you, but it often doesn’t happen that way. To achieve your goals, you need to allow them to take progressive & positive steps. Provide a list of very small portions of your overall change plan. Each item selected should be something that will work without fail. Do not include the "risky" components of your plan on these lists. Those who resist the entire plan should choose from the list to get started and they can be walked up the ladder.
• Give Them Something: It doesn’t have to be money or the keys to the castle. Everyone wants to be praised, recognized for their contributions, and provided with tokens of appreciation. Find ways, subtly and overtly, to provide these things to resisters who are participating in early successes. You will alleviate their’s and other’s fears and get far more buy-in.
• Allow Mistakes: Your resisters and scared. They are dreaming up doomsday scenarios and each pothole along the way is going to seem like a ravine to them. Ensure that they won’t be embarrassed, even in failure, and you will be the recipient of far more effort during your small-steps phase.
• Help them to learn: Providing background and general knowledge about your initiative and more specifically your solution will do wonders. Resisters who are being trained and feel as though they have a sense of control over the information and process are much more likely to lose their fears and support your efforts. Be ready to back up your efforts with statements about how the change will help THEM (quicker process, less complaints, more energy, etc...)
• Ask for leadership in others: Once your resisters have taken some baby steps and are starting to see success, you’ll notice a change in their behavior. As a leader, you can create a new sense of empowerment in them, and ask them to take a leadership role with others – helping other resisters to achieve the early successes that move everyone towards your goals. These two groups are often friends anyway!
• Be considerate and compassionate: You don’t have to agree with the negative thoughts of others in order to show that you understand the legitimacy of their concern. Making the decision to support change is emotional for resisters. Choosing to ignore what they consider to be important is a sure-fire way to strengthen their non-supportive resolve.
• Provide a head start: The more of a rolling start that you can give the resisters the better off you’ll be. Take the sting out of the challenge by focusing the front-end of your initiative. Make early success visible, and give any available positive nudge for them to simply take that first step.
• Prove your own commitment: Accepted research shows five phases of a change initiative. Pre-contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, and Maintenance. It is the leader's responsibility to see the change through to the end, and to be an involved leader each step of the way. Early delegation, especially with resisters, will derail your efforts and success. Resolve yourself to be part of a positive process.

There are Action Steps and Exercises related to this article as well. Please involve yourself in them!

Duke Kelly, Education Illustrated LLC