A Principal Submits... Observations From a Perfect Dysfunctional Storm - Point #2

The following is the second of a multi-point field report from a LYS Principal.

SC,

A school’s quality is largely determined by perception.  A school that has decent law and order, clear hallways, and is reasonably clean, is further along the path towards being considered good.  After those issues are addressed, the only way leadership mistakes become visible is if the accountability data makes the news.

SC Response

Amen.  As I explain to teachers and education leaders, time and time again, the community really does not understand curriculum, instruction, accountability, etc.  They do understand how the school looks, how the students look, and how the staff looks.  The community’s perception of these packaging issues dictates whether your school is considered “good” or “bad,” regardless of rating. So by cleaning up and presenting well, you can buy time to work on the things that really matter (teaching and learning).

However, school after school ignores this, either due to laziness, apathy, or a focus on adult comfort.  But here’s the kicker, from a district, state and business perspective, if a campus won’t engage in the simple things (clean, sharp, professional appearance), there is little confidence in its ability to tackle the hard things (curriculum, instruction, assessment, expanding the knowledge base). 

And again, the critical factor remains... Leadership.

 

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/Fundamental5 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: Illinois ASCD Fall Conference (Multiple Presentations), Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association Fall AP Conference, The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Multiple Presentations) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

A Principal Submits... Observations From the Perfect Dysfunctional Storm - Point #1

The following is the first of a multi-point field report from a LYS Principal.

SC,

The difficulties attributed to urban schools are largely a myth.  I find the little difference between the students in poor urban settings, poor suburban settings and poor rural settings. For the record, I have worked in all three setting.  What I have observed is that the obstacles to success in all districts are largely created by adults.  Urban districts get the spotlight because thousands of students are affected at once.  Adults use the “tough urban school” legend to explain why the kids fail, when in reality the problem is that leadership has failed.

SC Response

In general, I do not disagree with you on this point.  A critical difference that I have observed between the large, poor school and the small, poor school is based on (not surprisingly) scale.  In the smaller schools, the staff know their students better so they are less afraid and/or intimidated by them.  In the larger school, where staff / student relationships are more diffused, the staff allow themselves to be fooled by the 1/8 inch thick shell of hardness that some students attempt to cultivate.  The longer this is allowed to fester, the more it becomes a reality.  The answer is to engage with every student, everyday. This of course requires on-going training (rare), on-going support (rarer), on-going monitoring (rarest) and meaningful intervention (nearly mythical). 

But you are correct, the critical factor remains... Leadership. 

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/Fundamental5 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: Illinois ASCD Fall Conference (Multiple Presentations), Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association Fall AP Conference, The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Multiple Presentations) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

A Reader Writes... Exactly How Many Guns Do We Need - Part 3

In response to the 6/24/2015 post, “Exactly How Many Guns Do We Need,” a LYS reader writes:

SC,

I am wondering why you continue to get write from an anti-gun stance and its predictable rhetoric. I have no desire to receive these types of political posts with a definite agenda. Please remove me from the blog roll.

Thank you.

SC Response

As you are aware, the majority of the posts I write are either about the nuts and bolts of school operations, or the practices of better school leadership.  But yes, without question, I will and do write about larger issues that effect our ability to provide a quality education for those that we serve.  Which means that politics can be the topic of the day.  

I would respectfully disagree with your statement that I am voicing an anti-gun opinion.  As I stated in the post, I am a life long gun owner and hunter.

I am not Anti-gun.  

But I am also not Pro-gun. 

The issue is not that simple. I am fully aware of and completely respect the awesome destructive power and life altering / taking capability of firearms. And due to that understanding, if one were to label me, I would be Reasonable-gun.  

Reasonable-gun... That uncomfortable middle ground that makes you a target (no pun intended) of both ends of the gun debate spectrum.  This is why I occasionally write (and will continue to write) on the topic.  This act represents my limited attempt to open a dialogue on a topic that seemingly generates only knee-jerk responses.   

You can of course unsubscribe from the blog, but I would rather you write a rebuttal.  Make the compelling case of where my argument is flawed. Because that represents the spirit and purpose of this blog; to create the arena of ideas, sometimes similar, sometimes conflicting, that generates deeper thought and meaningful action.

The choice is yours.

This is the last I will write on this topic for a while. A reasoned rebuttal is welcomed.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/Fundamental5 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: Illinois ASCD Fall Conference (Multiple Presentations), Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association Fall AP Conference, The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Multiple Presentations) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

Top LYS Tweets From the Week of July 5, 2015

A number of you in the LYS Nation are now Twitter users.  If you haven’t done so yet, we want you to join us.  To let you see what you are missing, here are the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of July 5, 2015.

1. If you truly believe that elementary students are to blame for their lack of success then I truly believe that you should quit teaching elementary school. (By @LYSNation)

2. If a teacher gives a lot of F's, then someone's failed. (By @ToddWhitaker)

3. It's beyond mystifying that people who loathe public education are put in positions to control it. (By @pastors4txkids)

4. When you allow your school to be attacked and destroyed, you allow your community's future to be destroyed as well. (By @JohnWink90)

5. It's pretty simple really...1. Love others 2. Forgive others 3. Help others...that should be the American way. (By @cheadhorn)

6. “At its core, good teaching means helping students learn how to learn, so they can be whatever they want to be when they grow up.” (By @DrRichAllen)

7. Racial integration, understanding and reconciliation are among the many ways public education builds the moral character of our nation. (By @pastors4txkids)

8. The "WHY" behind your goal gives the goal nobility. It causes you to be willing to sacrifice to win. (By @DaveRamsey)

9. Many small positive interactions are more useful than one big positive. (By @Leadershipfreak)

10. "It is amazing how much education policy is now being made during budget negotiations, with no educators in the room." (By @pastors4txkids)

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/Fundamental5 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: Illinois ASCD Fall Conference (Multiple Presentations), Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association Fall AP Conference, The Fundamental 5 National Summit (Multiple Presentations) 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

A Reader Writes... Exactly How Many Guns Do We Need - Part 2

In response to the 6/24/2015 post, “Exactly How Many Guns Do We Need,” a LYS reader writes:

SC,

I totally support your viewpoint. I would like to add that this topic has become politicized. I feel it needs to be discussed as a topic outside of the liberal or conservative lens. The longer it is viewed as a topic that is attached to unrelated political agendas, the less likely we are able to discuss it openly and in a posture to listen.

SC Response

Thank you. And I agree. Unfettered gun ownership and access is not a black / white issue. It is nuanced.  And should be treated as such.

And I repeat, the vote is the most important right that we possess.  And there are restrictions and parameters that are placed on that right.

Free speech, is arguable the second most important right that we possess. And there are restrictions and parameters that are placed on that right.

Shouldn’t the right to bear arms, which is the right most likely to infringe on another citizens most valued possession... Life, be subject to reasonable restrictions and parameters?

And once again, I ask this question as a life long gun owner and hunter. 

      

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/Fundamental5 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: Illinois ASCD Fall Conference (Multiple Presentations), Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association Fall AP Conference 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook

A Reader Writes... Exactly How Many Guns Do We Need - Part 1

In response to the 6/24/2015 post, “Exactly How Many Guns Do We Need,” a LYS reader writes:

SC,

I do not believe that everyone being armed with guns is going to stop every racist or terrorist from committing crimes, however if someone else in the proximity to a crime or terrorist act were armed it could prevent the loss of additional lives.  This being said I don’t believe that it would be a good practice for every citizen to walk around on the streets armed with a handgun.

I am also not certain that I agree with your statement that the right to vote is necessarily more important than the right to bear arms, as well as the statement that, “it is more difficult to vote than it is to purchase a gun.” 

I believe that the right to vote and the right to bear arms are both important and that anyone voting should be required to present documentation that they are a citizen of the United States; whatever that documentation may be.  Many of our politicians object that people should not have to present documentation to vote, yet they want to require this same documentation or more to purchase a firearms.   At this time it is not more difficult to vote than to purchase a gun.  There is an ongoing fight to require more and more documentation to purchase a gun and less and less to be able to vote.

I believe that those people who would advocate stricter and stricter gun control usually have their own hidden agenda which many times has nothing to do with crime in the streets.  The restriction of gun sales is not going to prevent criminals, terrorists, etc. from finding and purchasing guns as well as using them to commit crimes.  Restrictions on gun sales would only make it harder for law abiding citizens to purchase guns.  To think that you will always have law enforcement around when you are in need is naïve.  There are many instances when you or your family may be in need of protection and you have to rely on yourself to defend them.  In a perfect world this would not be the case, however we do not yet live in a perfect world.

I believe that the attack on our “right to bear arms” is just one more attack on our freedoms in this country.  Unfortunately, in recent days I have seen an increase in attacks on our personal liberties in this country in all areas.  I believe that each time we give up an individual right to the government it becomes easier and easier for them to take additional freedoms.  I believe that government should rule in its least restrictive form.  Our government has continued to grow and grow, and as it has done so it has taken away many of the rights that individuals used to enjoy.  In some cases we see these laws as benefitting the common good, but in other cases we see them as unnecessary intrusions into our daily lives.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/Fundamental5 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: Illinois ASCD Fall Conference (Multiple Presentations), Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association Fall AP Conference 
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook