When a man’s an empty kettle
He should be on his mettle
And yet I’m torn apart
Just because I’m presumin’
That I could be a human
If I only had a heart
I’d be tender, I’d be gentle
And awful sentimental
Regarding love and art
I’d be friends with the sparrows
And the boy that shoots the arrows
If I only had a heart
Ah, the immortal words of the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz come to mind as I read Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach’s Matters of the Heart blog post. Sheryl laments, along with an unknown friend, the lack of heart and emotional intelligence in educational reform and change efforts. She writes:
A good friend told me that he heard another friend whining about how he wished educational bloggers would get back to blogging from the heart. It struck a cord with me.
Having written from the heart on many a occasion, I find myself laughing with a bit of surprise at this desire for a return to a gentler, kinder state of edublogging. The truth is that so many have cried tears, worn their heart on their sleeve, only to see it sacrificed and thrown into the mouth of the ReformGod.
This sacrifice of educators’ hearts has never been so obvious as in the betrayal by President Obama, Arne Duncan and his education policies. Perhaps, it will take more than heart to think one’s way out of the mess we now find ourselves in. But certainly, one would expect to be “heartened” by the good efforts the current administration has chosen to make…to find such efforts disheartening leaves one wondering if any reform efforts at the national level will truly bear fruit, not unlike the watermelon with empty space at its heart, eaten out as if by worms.
In a 2009 article at THE Journal, the title of which is laughable now as we look back on the betrayal of the current administration and the role of educational technology. The title is Obama Administration: Technology at the Heart of Education Reform. These words are, quite plainly, false. The article has the following lead with a sweet tasting follow-up quote:
“Technology is core and essential to the strategies we are using to reform education.” That was the message from both Jim Shelton, assistant deputy secretary for innovation and improvement at the United States Department of Education, and Aneesh Chopra, chief technology officer in the White House.
Shelton said, “People are about to figure out how important you are to accomplishing education reform in this country.”
In retrospect, it seems obvious. This was nothing more than another sweet-tasting fruit meant for an entirely different purpose:
The death of Educational Technology in schools today….
Sheryl cites wise change leaders such as Michael Fullan and Heath & Heath in urging change and leadership. But I tell you that the kind of change we wish to see is not only that of a good people yearning to breathe free, but a righteous government that will engage our hearts and minds to bring about the change we need…revolution without rebellion (as I read earlier today somewhere).
While Sheryl’s post is about the work she is about with PLP, I find that such work must resonate with people out there. It may be that change advocates are tired, perhaps reconsidering their approach, whether their message is important. I fervently believe that it is critical, that the people we teach today, as co-learners, makes a difference in people’s lives. I just don’t believe that the end-game is education reform, an amorphous creature that no matter how many times you slay, it grows two heads more hideous as the one it replaced.
In the end, I do not seek to change systems of perfect Camazotz, or to strive for Camelot on Earth. Rather, I only hope to nurture passionate engagement among people engaged in a difficult journey and make it a little less sad.
If any organization can do that, while transparently disclosing its business interests, then who are we to criticize?
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Your most potent simile, "if any reform efforts at the national level will truly bear fruit, not unlike the watermelon with empty space at its heart, eaten out as if by worms." Has national 'reform' ever, ever borne fruit?I believe that due the World Wars, capitalism and serendipity, the US attained accidental dominance in education.We need a clear vision of who we are and who we want to be as a society of learners. Until a national figure starts that dialog, we will struggle along with this top down 'reform'.
Your most potent simile, “if any reform efforts at the national level will truly bear fruit, not unlike the watermelon with empty space at its heart, eaten out as if by worms.” Has national 'reform' ever, ever borne fruit?I believe that due the World Wars, capitalism and serendipity, the US attained accidental dominance in education.We need a clear vision of who we are and who we want to be as a society of learners. Until a national figure starts that dialog, we will struggle along with this top down 'reform'.
This post grabbed my attention this morning. There are so many thought paths opened by the words that I'm standing gaped jawed wondering which way to go. For now I crave a gentle walk with others and a discussion about the mission and the reasons we pursue it.
This post grabbed my attention this morning. There are so many thought paths opened by the words that I'm standing gaped jawed wondering which way to go. For now I crave a gentle walk with others and a discussion about the mission and the reasons we pursue it.
You say, "Sheryl cites wise change leaders such as Michael Fullan and Heath & Heath in urging change and leadership. But I tell you that the kind of change we wish to see is not only that of a good people yearning to breathe free, but a righteous government that will engage our hearts and minds to bring about the change we need…revolution without rebellion (as I read earlier today somewhere)."Abraham Lincoln said, "The philosophy of the classroom in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next." Without a reculturation of schools and a shift in the way we think about education in general- we can forget about ever having "a righteous government that will engage our hearts and minds "a righteous government that will engage our hearts and minds…"Like you, I do not believe the end game is educational reform. I believe it is the start game. I believe that we need to see ourselves as teacher activists and leave a legacy worth emulating to our students. In my humble mind what I see missing is leadership that understands shift and how to manage change. Rather I see leadership embracing the status quo with a few new tools thrown in so as to feel like they are doing something different. I believe the reason we have a government in this generation in the shape your describe is because we had classrooms in the last generation that were void of passion and empathy.
You say, “Sheryl cites wise change leaders such as Michael Fullan and Heath & Heath in urging change and leadership. But I tell you that the kind of change we wish to see is not only that of a good people yearning to breathe free, but a righteous government that will engage our hearts and minds to bring about the change we need…revolution without rebellion (as I read earlier today somewhere).”Abraham Lincoln said, “The philosophy of the classroom in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.” Without a reculturation of schools and a shift in the way we think about education in general- we can forget about ever having “a righteous government that will engage our hearts and minds “a righteous government that will engage our hearts and minds…”Like you, I do not believe the end game is educational reform. I believe it is the start game. I believe that we need to see ourselves as teacher activists and leave a legacy worth emulating to our students. In my humble mind what I see missing is leadership that understands shift and how to manage change. Rather I see leadership embracing the status quo with a few new tools thrown in so as to feel like they are doing something different. I believe the reason we have a government in this generation in the shape your describe is because we had classrooms in the last generation that were void of passion and empathy.
@Sheryl, you say that and it's hard to disagree with. But having been here for the last decade, I don't think I was a passionless onion, tasteless and failing to make a contribution. Rather, I think we have thousands of passionate educators wanting to make a contribution but with no stew to flavor, no pot to influence.Social media tools have enabled us to jump into other pots, to express that passion more visibly. So, yes, leadership does do what you describe…maintain the status quo while merely changing the clothes to match the trendy fashion of the day. Technology isn't the trendy fashion, it's the fashion movement itself with high tech tools. Creativity and collaborative causes remain tricks of light and mirrors, facile words whispered into the mob.;->
@Sheryl, you say that and it's hard to disagree with. But having been here for the last decade, I don't think I was a passionless onion, tasteless and failing to make a contribution. Rather, I think we have thousands of passionate educators wanting to make a contribution but with no stew to flavor, no pot to influence.Social media tools have enabled us to jump into other pots, to express that passion more visibly. So, yes, leadership does do what you describe…maintain the status quo while merely changing the clothes to match the trendy fashion of the day. Technology isn't the trendy fashion, it's the fashion movement itself with high tech tools. Creativity and collaborative causes remain tricks of light and mirrors, facile words whispered into the mob.;->
@Skip thanks. I don't know if reform has borne fruit unless we measure it in the learning conversations of the people who have them. In terms of a tangible, external construct that we can point to and say, "There, that is the idea-work of generations," then no.Look, there is the Washington Monument as opposed to "See, here in the grooves and curves of electrified matter, change is wrought."
@Skip thanks. I don't know if reform has borne fruit unless we measure it in the learning conversations of the people who have them. In terms of a tangible, external construct that we can point to and say, “There, that is the idea-work of generations,” then no.Look, there is the Washington Monument as opposed to “See, here in the grooves and curves of electrified matter, change is wrought.”
@Kevin Gentle walks with others can have powerful consequences. Better a jarring ride that shakes loose exhilaration and thought, binding us in adventure but allowing the distance of mind.too fun.Thanks,Miguel
@Kevin Gentle walks with others can have powerful consequences. Better a jarring ride that shakes loose exhilaration and thought, binding us in adventure but allowing the distance of mind.too fun.Thanks,Miguel