In business, there are certain leadership characteristics and smart business plans that drive whether or not such a business will be successful. In today’s time, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you must hold a higher ed degree to be successful (look at some online businesses started by high school students). Instead, you can learn from other examples of profitable businesses to glean best practices.
Education is different.
I’ve never quite been convinced that school boards are in the best interest of educating our children. Yes, education is a business “on the books” and yes, there are certain business practices that must be implemented (handling budgets, especially), if a school system to be run efficiently. But, in no other business in the world is there such a need for MORE than just good business practices.
Teachers and administrators are required to become experts in the field of CHILDREN. They must hold degrees with coursework in child development, teaching methodology, pedagogy, curriculum, research and best practices. They are required to intern under a master teacher and then learn from a mentor upon becoming a beginning teacher. They are required to commit to ongoing professional development to renew their certifications. They are required to meet the needs of each child, no matter the disability, background, social/economical status, prior knowledge, or home life.
They are required to be held accountable for their performance in the classroom, and trust me- they are. Teachers today are worried about test scores (despite the fact that almost all of them believe that one test will never show what a child can do), the pressure of all those tests, how to prepare EVERY child for the future. They spend more time thinking about how to help their students than they do with their own family. They study research to make sure they are implementing best practices in the classroom. They write grants to get more funding for the things they know their students need.
Determining what is best for our students doesn’t take just some good business sense. It takes EDUCATION. That’s right. The same thing we demand of our teachers must be a requirement of those who choose our school leaders. It is so heart wrenching to hear members of the board say that they know who is best suited to run a school. You have no idea.
You don’t know what kind of principal it takes to lead a school to success. It isn’t the same as choosing employees in a business world. Deciding whom is the best leader for a school requires that you be educated in the many facets of children and learning. You must know the research in child development, school leadership, 21st century skills, how school environment affects learning, and pedagogy.
School boards have the legal rights and responsibilities to run a school system (whether I agree or not). But, most of the time, school boards recognize that the superintendent they hire has much more knowledge in the art and science of teaching, learning, and leadership of schools than they do, and so they leave the decision making that requires such knowledge to him/her. Things like choosing school leaders (and teachers, for that matter).
Our school board has decided to have a say in the hiring of every single employee of the school system, rather than trusting our principals and superintendent, who have advanced degrees in teaching and leading, to decide. What in the world could the members of this board have to say to defend such actions? Nothing, other than quoting from school board documentation that states basically that they “are the boss.”
That’s just not a good enough reason. Being the boss doesn’t mean you have to make all the decisions, or micromanage the system, or develop an arrogant nature. In fact, good leadership qualities are quite the opposite. They are part of a team, they rely on the strengths and knowledge of those around them, and they inspire and challenge.
Educators are good about making the best of bad situations. They search out support and resources when none is given, they fight from the trenches while the rest of the world fights from the political rings and state offices, and they empower their students to become learners. So, we’ll keep keeping on, despite what decisions are made in board meetings. We always have, for the sake of the children.
Does the News Herald no longer verify the identity of those who submit Letters to the Editor? I am in a local rest home frequently seeing to a family member and have first hand knowledge about Helen Brown, the author of the "Valdese Clique" letter published 2/7/08. She is the grandmother of the brother-in-law of our School Board Chairman, Tim Buff. She is not in a condition that would have allowed her to have penned this letter. Isn't it sad that some who support our School Board Chairman, Tim Buff feel they must resort to hidden identities or to say it another way, identity theft?
I find it amazing that I also found out today the true identity of Helen Brown. I hope that someone from The News Herald reads this and does indeed insist upon the writer revealing his real name!
Helen Brown's letter was, in my opinion, was inappropriate (trust me, I could say worse) to say the least. She had no right to bash the town of Valdese for their response to Tim and Tracy's, I mean the BOARD'S decision. Her letter of praise to Tim made me gag in my mouth just a bit. She obviously doesn't know what's really going on. Oh well, IGNORANCE IS A CHOICE.
Buff and Norman are notorious for ghost writing and using other peoples' names.
I take solace in the fact that they are reading this blog, and it is tearing them up inside. They cannot stand being exposed. I'm glad folks are tracking their physical and political moves.
Oh, I know they won't give up and resign. But I hope the parents, professional educators, and students do not give up. It's their school system and their future.
That's right boys and girls, attack residents of rest homes. While you're at it why don't you push a few people out in front of Myra's on Saturday night and club them as well. All of you should be ashamed of yourself.
I do hope that the new board members are reading this as well. They are probably laughing their ass off at your pure insane ignorant excuse for behavior.
I believe it is the people hiding behind the rest home that are being attacked. In fact, it seems as though they just threw their relative in the street in front of Myra's. As to the new borad, they would certainly recognize insane ignorance, they invented it.
9 comments:
In business, there are certain leadership characteristics and smart business plans that drive whether or not such a business will be successful. In today’s time, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you must hold a higher ed degree to be successful (look at some online businesses started by high school students). Instead, you can learn from other examples of profitable businesses to glean best practices.
Education is different.
I’ve never quite been convinced that school boards are in the best interest of educating our children. Yes, education is a business “on the books” and yes, there are certain business practices that must be implemented (handling budgets, especially), if a school system to be run efficiently. But, in no other business in the world is there such a need for MORE than just good business practices.
Teachers and administrators are required to become experts in the field of CHILDREN. They must hold degrees with coursework in child development, teaching methodology, pedagogy, curriculum, research and best practices. They are required to intern under a master teacher and then learn from a mentor upon becoming a beginning teacher. They are required to commit to ongoing professional development to renew their certifications. They are required to meet the needs of each child, no matter the disability, background, social/economical status, prior knowledge, or home life.
They are required to be held accountable for their performance in the classroom, and trust me- they are. Teachers today are worried about test scores (despite the fact that almost all of them believe that one test will never show what a child can do), the pressure of all those tests, how to prepare EVERY child for the future. They spend more time thinking about how to help their students than they do with their own family. They study research to make sure they are implementing best practices in the classroom. They write grants to get more funding for the things they know their students need.
Determining what is best for our students doesn’t take just some good business sense. It takes EDUCATION. That’s right. The same thing we demand of our teachers must be a requirement of those who choose our school leaders. It is so heart wrenching to hear members of the board say that they know who is best suited to run a school. You have no idea.
You don’t know what kind of principal it takes to lead a school to success. It isn’t the same as choosing employees in a business world. Deciding whom is the best leader for a school requires that you be educated in the many facets of children and learning. You must know the research in child development, school leadership, 21st century skills, how school environment affects learning, and pedagogy.
School boards have the legal rights and responsibilities to run a school system (whether I agree or not). But, most of the time, school boards recognize that the superintendent they hire has much more knowledge in the art and science of teaching, learning, and leadership of schools than they do, and so they leave the decision making that requires such knowledge to him/her. Things like choosing school leaders (and teachers, for that matter).
Our school board has decided to have a say in the hiring of every single employee of the school system, rather than trusting our principals and superintendent, who have advanced degrees in teaching and leading, to decide. What in the world could the members of this board have to say to defend such actions? Nothing, other than quoting from school board documentation that states basically that they “are the boss.”
That’s just not a good enough reason. Being the boss doesn’t mean you have to make all the decisions, or micromanage the system, or develop an arrogant nature. In fact, good leadership qualities are quite the opposite. They are part of a team, they rely on the strengths and knowledge of those around them, and they inspire and challenge.
Educators are good about making the best of bad situations. They search out support and resources when none is given, they fight from the trenches while the rest of the world fights from the political rings and state offices, and they empower their students to become learners. So, we’ll keep keeping on, despite what decisions are made in board meetings. We always have, for the sake of the children.
Please send this in to the News Herald.
Does the News Herald no longer verify the identity of those who submit Letters to the Editor? I am in a local rest home frequently seeing to a family member and have first hand knowledge about Helen Brown, the author of the "Valdese Clique" letter published 2/7/08. She is the grandmother of the brother-in-law of our School Board Chairman, Tim Buff. She is not in a condition that would have allowed her to have penned this letter. Isn't it sad that some who support our School Board Chairman, Tim Buff feel they must resort to hidden identities or to say it another way, identity theft?
I find it amazing that I also found out today the true identity of Helen Brown. I hope that someone from The News Herald reads this and does indeed insist upon the writer revealing his real name!
Helen Brown's letter was, in my opinion, was inappropriate (trust me, I could say worse) to say the least. She had no right to bash the town of Valdese for their response to Tim and Tracy's, I mean the BOARD'S decision. Her letter of praise to Tim made me gag in my mouth just a bit. She obviously doesn't know what's really going on. Oh well, IGNORANCE IS A CHOICE.
Buff and Norman are notorious for ghost writing and using other peoples' names.
I take solace in the fact that they are reading this blog, and it is tearing them up inside. They cannot stand being exposed. I'm glad folks are tracking their physical and political moves.
Oh, I know they won't give up and resign. But I hope the parents, professional educators, and students do not give up. It's their school system and their future.
That's right boys and girls, attack residents of rest homes. While you're at it why don't you push a few people out in front of Myra's on Saturday night and club them as well. All of you should be ashamed of yourself.
I do hope that the new board members are reading this as well. They are probably laughing their ass off at your pure insane ignorant excuse for behavior.
I believe it is the people hiding behind the rest home that are being attacked. In fact, it seems as though they just threw their relative in the street in front of Myra's.
As to the new borad, they would certainly recognize insane ignorance, they invented it.
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