Comments on: Politics: the biggest problem in education http://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/09/30/politics-the-biggest-problem-in-education/ Education. Technology. Productivity. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:57:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Travellerhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/09/30/politics-the-biggest-problem-in-education/comment-page-1/#comment-5927 Traveller Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:29:00 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/?p=1314#comment-5927 Great post, really help me alot. Thanks. Cheers, <a href="http://the-review.info/" rel="nofollow">Blog Review</a> Great post, really help me alot. Thanks.

Cheers,
Blog Review

]]> By: In a Position To Serve | Collateral Learninghttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/09/30/politics-the-biggest-problem-in-education/comment-page-1/#comment-1361 In a Position To Serve | Collateral Learning Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:59:39 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/?p=1314#comment-1361 [...] Politics: the biggest problem in education [...] [...] Politics: the biggest problem in education [...]

]]> By: Joel Zehringhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/09/30/politics-the-biggest-problem-in-education/comment-page-1/#comment-1358 Joel Zehring Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:23:26 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/?p=1314#comment-1358 Jim Collins! Yeah! We don't talk enough about "Good to Great" on this big, bad edublogosphere.<br><br>Technology-driven? I'm not convinced technology is a sufficient foundation for an educational system. If we stay true to the "Good to Great" principles, then tech is an accelerator in turning the fly-wheel. We still need people (teachers, staff, admins, etc.) that practice disciplined thought and disciplined action to drive an organization toward achieving a great goal.<br><br>Oh yeah, we also need a great goal. I haven't seen one of those in education yet. I've only been in the game five years, though. Jim Collins! Yeah! We don't talk enough about “Good to Great” on this big, bad edublogosphere.

Technology-driven? I'm not convinced technology is a sufficient foundation for an educational system. If we stay true to the “Good to Great” principles, then tech is an accelerator in turning the fly-wheel. We still need people (teachers, staff, admins, etc.) that practice disciplined thought and disciplined action to drive an organization toward achieving a great goal.

Oh yeah, we also need a great goal. I haven't seen one of those in education yet. I've only been in the game five years, though.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/09/30/politics-the-biggest-problem-in-education/comment-page-1/#comment-5400 Anonymous Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:23:00 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/?p=1314#comment-5400 Jim Collins! Yeah! We don't talk enough about "Good to Great" on this big, bad edublogosphere. Technology-driven? I'm not convinced technology is a sufficient foundation for an educational system. If we stay true to the "Good to Great" principles, then tech is an accelerator in turning the fly-wheel. We still need people (teachers, staff, admins, etc.) that practice disciplined thought and disciplined action to drive an organization toward achieving a great goal. Oh yeah, we also need a great goal. I haven't seen one of those in education yet. I've only been in the game five years, though. Jim Collins! Yeah! We don’t talk enough about “Good to Great” on this big, bad edublogosphere.

Technology-driven? I’m not convinced technology is a sufficient foundation for an educational system. If we stay true to the “Good to Great” principles, then tech is an accelerator in turning the fly-wheel. We still need people (teachers, staff, admins, etc.) that practice disciplined thought and disciplined action to drive an organization toward achieving a great goal.

Oh yeah, we also need a great goal. I haven’t seen one of those in education yet. I’ve only been in the game five years, though.

]]> By: Doug Belshawhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/09/30/politics-the-biggest-problem-in-education/comment-page-1/#comment-1357 Doug Belshaw Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:56:22 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/?p=1314#comment-1357 I'm intrigued and would love some more detail on how you're going to<br>do that! Are you a Head? I'm all for teachers 'buying in' to a system<br>because they see the merits of it, but you need the right people in<br>your core team from the start. :-) I'm intrigued and would love some more detail on how you're going to
do that! Are you a Head? I'm all for teachers 'buying in' to a system
because they see the merits of it, but you need the right people in
your core team from the start. :-)

]]> By: Scarterhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/09/30/politics-the-biggest-problem-in-education/comment-page-1/#comment-1356 Scarter Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:08:28 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/?p=1314#comment-1356 I think I have come to the spot as a superintendent where I am going to put less effort into changing the current system, and all the teachers, to meet the needs of a 21st century learners. My efforts are now shifting to developing a parallel system within the public system that is less teacher centric and more technology driven. My hope is that over time more students will choose the new system and the old one will die from lack of demand. additional benefits are that , as Jim Collins would say, I get to choose who is on the bus right from the start. I think I have come to the spot as a superintendent where I am going to put less effort into changing the current system, and all the teachers, to meet the needs of a 21st century learners. My efforts are now shifting to developing a parallel system within the public system that is less teacher centric and more technology driven. My hope is that over time more students will choose the new system and the old one will die from lack of demand. additional benefits are that , as Jim Collins would say, I get to choose who is on the bus right from the start.

]]> By: Joel Zehringhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/09/30/politics-the-biggest-problem-in-education/comment-page-1/#comment-1348 Joel Zehring Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:00:59 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/?p=1314#comment-1348 I wouldn't blame the brainwashing on media/parents. The blame should rest on educators who have failed to make promises they can keep (or make any promises at all). Teachers have failed to define a compelling purpose/vision for education in our society, so others have stepped in to cast their own vision.<br><br>If we don't like the story being told about education, then we need to tell a different story. I wouldn't blame the brainwashing on media/parents. The blame should rest on educators who have failed to make promises they can keep (or make any promises at all). Teachers have failed to define a compelling purpose/vision for education in our society, so others have stepped in to cast their own vision.

If we don't like the story being told about education, then we need to tell a different story.

]]> By: Joel Zehringhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/09/30/politics-the-biggest-problem-in-education/comment-page-1/#comment-1355 Joel Zehring Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:40:47 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/?p=1314#comment-1355 Is it possible that we ask school principals ("heads" in UK?) to do too much? Managers do not usually make the best visionaries.<br><br>Additionally, I believe effective, powerful vision is not the edict of an administrator, but the result of a careful process of individual, small group, and whole-school examination where teachers, support staff, and admins answer those three questions I mentioned previously.<br><br>Good vision is always rooted in reality, and a large chunk of school reality is the classroom. We need teachers to bring their experience and passion to the vision discussion if we want them to buy in. Is it possible that we ask school principals (“heads” in UK?) to do too much? Managers do not usually make the best visionaries.

Additionally, I believe effective, powerful vision is not the edict of an administrator, but the result of a careful process of individual, small group, and whole-school examination where teachers, support staff, and admins answer those three questions I mentioned previously.

Good vision is always rooted in reality, and a large chunk of school reality is the classroom. We need teachers to bring their experience and passion to the vision discussion if we want them to buy in.

]]> By: Doug Belshawhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/09/30/politics-the-biggest-problem-in-education/comment-page-1/#comment-5399 Doug Belshaw Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:56:00 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/?p=1314#comment-5399 I'm intrigued and would love some more detail on how you're going to do that! Are you a Head? I'm all for teachers 'buying in' to a system because they see the merits of it, but you need the right people in your core team from the start. :-) I’m intrigued and would love some more detail on how you’re going to
do that! Are you a Head? I’m all for teachers ‘buying in’ to a system
because they see the merits of it, but you need the right people in
your core team from the start. :-)

]]> By: Doug Belshawhttp://dougbelshaw.com/blog/2008/09/30/politics-the-biggest-problem-in-education/comment-page-1/#comment-1349 Doug Belshaw Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:49:18 +0000 http://www.dougbelshaw.com/?p=1314#comment-1349 Yes, Joel, but you're treating teachers as professionals who work together.By and large, they don't. What goes on in each classroom is varied anddisparate. We need teachers to come together more to claim that vision andprovide a grassroots alternative. Yes, Joel, but you're treating teachers as professionals who work together.By and large, they don't. What goes on in each classroom is varied anddisparate. We need teachers to come together more to claim that vision andprovide a grassroots alternative.

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