Dear editor,
I believe leadership voids are created when governments assume leadership responsibilities historically taken by individuals who would see things that no longer work and would work to create things to fix their problems. Leaders would simply “rise to the occasion” and assume the responsibility to lead. Today individuals elected or appointed to carry the burden or responsibility are simply not motivated to lead.
In education, local boards and superintendents make up the leadership teams charged with giving our children the best education possible. However, less attention is being given to improving education than to “keeping things the way they are.” The reason for this shift from improving learning to maintaining the status quo is, in my opinion, the absence of leadership.
Educational leaders cannot or will not rise in the time of need because today’s teachers, superintendents, principals and board members are restrained by their fears. Fear that they won’t be re-elected. Fear that they may be asked to work more for the same pay. Fear that in seeking to change long standing traditions, they may be labeled as “radicals.” Fear that they may ruin their chance for advancement and thus more benefits at retirement. Fear that they may be inconvenienced by having to alter their childcare arrangements. Fear that their athletic programs may have to adjust to a “learning is more important” attitude.
Letter to the Editor
The comfort zones of all the players are apparently more important than challenging the problems that compromise the effectiveness of our schools. For example, our board members know that our school calendar has a FATAL FLAW. By the time school begins each year, students will have forgotten up to 25 percent of all learning from the previous year. Knowing this fact, they remain unmotivated to lead or challenge the status quo. They will not investigate objectively, proposals to fix our school calendar. Nor can they give a reason for allowing such a significant loss of learning to go unanswered. Only the lack of leadership allows the destructive effect of our traditional calendar to remain even in the face of research that concluded, “the traditional school calendar is the sole cause of the loss of learning.” (John Hopkins University studies of summer learning loss.) Parents and educators are also victims of this leadership vacuum. Ironically those most effected are the children of those same parents, citizens and educators who are “responsible” for their education or in this case the loss of education. And the effect is proportionately greater in low income and minority families.
When educators are influenced by their desires to protect their comfort zones they will apparently refuse to take a stand for what is right even in the face of undeniable evidence that their lack of leadership victimizes their own children. Let us join together and create an environment where improving our children’s education is our primary goal. The return of effective leadership will bring about positive change through creative innovation and vision of tomorrow’s schools without summer learning loss.
I would like to invite you to be an active member of our discussion group. I welcome your feedback no matter what your opinions are. The purpose of an open discussion is to simply facilitate improvement and growth in our schools. Please contact me at fixourschools5@gmail.com and get on our mailing list.
Sincerely in the interest of our kids,
Bob R. Holland
When educators are influenced by their desires to protect their comfort zones they will apparently refuse to take a stand for what is right even in the face of undeniable evidence that their lack of leadership victimizes their own children. Let us join together and create an environment where improving our children’s education is our primary goal. The return of effective leadership will bring about positive change through creative innovation and vision of tomorrow’s schools without summer learning loss.
I would like to invite you to be an active member of our discussion group. I welcome your feedback no matter what your opinions are. The purpose of an open discussion is to simply facilitate improvement and growth in our schools. Please contact me at fixourschools5@gmail.com and get on our mailing list.
Sincerely in the interest of our kids,
Bob R. Holland
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#1
Anonymous
on
07/23/14 at 02:19 PM
[Reply]
Wny didn't you run for the school board or apply for the Superintendents job? Could it be fear of failure? Volunteer you time in the schools, they could use your time, with no pay!!
