Midvale School for the Gifted

This morning, we have our principals’ meeting. We’re leading off with this quote from Don Wettrick,

“We do our students a disservice when we prepare them for a world that no longer exists and fail to empower them with the skills and abilities they will need to navigate rough and shifting seas. We don’t need students who can fill in bubbles on a multiple-choice test; we need students who can create, innovate, connect, and collaborate. We need students who can identify and solve complex, real-world problems. Changing the way we educate students is not only necessary…it’s a moral imperative.”

Working with our principals and teachers, thinking about Don’s quote, I am reminded of the great Gary Larson cartoon above. As leaders, we sometimes feel like we’re pushing against a door that says to pull. And nothing happens. Teachers and principals absolutely know that kids deserve and need a different type of learning experience. Different types of learning experiences. Plural. We need to be able to push the door open.

But the door still says pull. What are some of the reasons that the door requires us to pull?

One of the reasons to still pull the door is the focus on kids’ test scores. Clearly the significance of this single piece of data as the be all and end all is dimming. But it’s still there. We can’t ignore it. Still need to pay it some attention. But not as much and not anywhere near enough to not attend to Don’s idea. We can’t pine for kids who can create, innovate, connect, and collaborate, but blame the need to attend to test scores as reason to keep pushing on the door.

Another example of pushing against the door that needs to be pulled is a notion that teachers don’t want to try new things or don’t think the skills Don describes are important. Simply not true. Here’s an idea from Elisabeth Bostwick on that notion,

“But I’d like to challenge the notion that just because someone appears to be unwilling to change, they are fans of the status quo club. It’s entirely possible that those of us who fear change or are uncomfortable with it simply require more support, encouragement, or time to process along the way. Perhaps some individuals aren’t certain why it’s crucial to step forward.” -Elisabeth Bostwick, Take the L.E.A.P.: Ignite a Culture of Innovation

I love this quote. Our job as leaders is to provide more support, encouragement, and time to process.

The most important part of Bostwick’s quote is the responsibility of leaders to explain why it’s crucial to step forward and push the door open.

Because, “Changing the way we educate students is not only necessary…it’s a moral imperative.”