Bird Droppings July 17, 2012

Should we not always be looking for answers?

 

It has been a few Saturdays past to be specific I spent the day taking tests for added certifications. These were not ones I sought but were being required by our county for Special Education teachers. I found it so interesting I have a Master’s degree in Emotional Behavior Disorders and several other degrees beyond that and need to take a test to show I know things about subjects I never took and literally if I pass I am certified to teach in those areas. Many teachers are doing this as a way of becoming certified, simply take a test. Perhaps more ironic is the teacher and teachers who have taken tests and have no training what so ever in that field and are now certified. At least in being certified in all areas of Special education I have experience in and or taken classes along the way in all these areas and have experience working nearly twenty years in special education.

My main point though is not teachers getting certified but as I took tests I could not help think about high school and elementary students taking GHSGT and CRCT’s, Georgia tests for various school programming’s and graduation. Georgia has raised the bar, the state school board states. More rigor in classes and curriculum and recently in a new math test nearly all students in Georgia failed. This past math test was so highly curved it was almost invalid. Raising the bar in high jumping to the world’s record means no one will attain it except for fellow who went over it once.

 

“Everything can be improved.” C. W. Barron

 

Years back I remember reading Philip Crosby’s ideas on quality in various courses and management training sessions. “Quality is exceeding the expectations of the customer.” A simple idea yet so often unattainable it would seem especially if customers have no expectations. Many of us as teachers hear those great words, I am passing I have a 70. Has that individual even attempted to surpass the expectations of anyone? All they did was answer and get done.

 

“Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything.” Wyatt Earp

 

There are many legends of the great lawman from Tombstone and Dodge City, Wyatt Earp over the years. Movie after movie has been made of the exploits, legends and even myths surrounding Wyatt Earp. As I was reading this statement while oriented around a gunfighter, what if applied to a school lesson or an essay?

 

“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.” William A. Foster

 

As often as I try and track down who said what as I use a quote or phrase I find something or someone new. William A. Foster is a world renowned photographer famous for use of intricate and detailed processing techniques and has had photos shown in galleries worldwide. However, Pvt. First Class William A. Foster died onOkinawain 1945 and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and either perhaps could have said this great thought. Sometimes even quality in life exceeds our expectations.

 

“If you forget you have to struggle for improvement you go backward.” Geoffrey Hickson

 

“If you want work well done, select a busy man; the other kind has no time.” Elbert Hubbard

 

Trying to attain a level of quality does take work. When I am watching students work some will simply do what is needed not what is expected but enough to get by these are the seventy percenters. Others take pride in their effort and go beyond what is expected here is where you find quality. A good example is an essay written several years ago by one of my students that won our county, region and was runner up in our state writing contest. This student wrote and rewrote till he had the essay just as he wanted it.  

 

“By the work one knows the workmen.” Jean De La Fontaine

 

“It is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didn’t.” Martin Van Buren

 

 Running side by side with quality issues is the book of excuses why a job or task is not done right it seems human kind actually prides itself in making excuses. Almost as if there is a flip side to humanity those who strive for the best and on the other the ones inventing excuses.

 

“We believe that more learning will occur if the student has a desire to learn, has positive feelings concerning his school environment, and succeeds in his work. A comfortable atmosphere of caring and acceptance established by the school is considered important, so that each student is encouraged to strive for excellence and to be creative.” Quality Schools International

 

Learning will occur in this setting but as a teacher how do we get to this point? How do we in a public school setting develop a place where students strive for excellence?

 

“…we believe in working with parents to encourage our students to adopt qualities of living which lead to success long after formal schooling has ended. These include universally accepted “success orientations” of trustworthiness, kindness, politeness, responsibility, independent endeavor, concern for others, group interaction…” Quality Schools International

 

As I am borrowing a line or two from the Mission Statement of Quality Schools International I do see working with parents is a key but within our class rooms there is a secret to success as well, and that is setting the example, building trust, kindness, and politeness guiding towards responsibility and concern for others as a start. Most days as I walk through the cafeteria there are many projects ongoing one was a group of students sitting with a row of bottles collecting for a child who has leukemia. One week it is red ribbon week and the student body is collecting for United Way as a focus, this is where concern for others starts where? By seeing it in action, witnessing concern and setting an example.

Back to the idea of setting a bar up somewhere to attain. Having a bar to reach is an expectation and it is an aspect we often overlook.

 

“Students can show and explain where their learning matches up to their State’s standards” Dr. Bradley H. Greene

 

In researching and reading this morning I came upon an article entitled Eliminating defective Customers by Kevin Weiss, CEO of Phillip Crosby and Associates and the Capability Group. So often we blame the customer or in our case the student or child. We keep that child in detention for being late and in reality maybe there was an excuse. We give exorbitant amounts of homework sending work home where there is no teacher because we did not get finished in class. Basically what Mr. Weiss points out in his article is we can blame the customer/student but in the end if we want to succeed as a business or a school it is the business/teachers that need to change and or get out.

Take Ten Minutes is a newsletter of Phillip B. Crosby and Associates, Quality Gurus to industry, while oriented to industry it does have some good thoughts. As a teacher I see we need to open our eyes and see where we can provide avenues for students to succeed and it may be in how we teach. It may be something simple like the lighting in the room. But it is first looking since, as C. W. Barron states, “Everything can be improved.” I wish this was true worldwide and today I am still in need of asking everyone to please keep all in harm’s way on your mind and in your hearts and to always give thanks for what we do have.

namaste

bird