Positives and Negatives, but perhaps more so the latter

Several years ago I met a school director who was, and I think I am being charitable here, mediocre. She had no educational vision, was incapable of forming a team, and just floated along. The school continued to exist because it was selling status, not education, and its parents were able to pay for private tutors for SAT and ACT etc preparation not realizing, or not caring, that this meant they were in effect paying twice. She then "moved up" to another school where she lasted two years, again making no impression other than perhaps to the board that she was not what they needed. How she has a very senior position in the central office of a large for-profit corporative group of schools which has just advertised for a deputy suggesting they both like her and intend to keep her as they expand. And so?

No More Netflix

I read this morning that Disney Plus is ending "password sharing" and that reminded me of a friend's problem with Netflix when they rolled this out. The issue was not the new Netflix policy; the issue was the corporate customer dis-service and lack of interest in fixing a problem which they had caused.

A trans-formative matter

I regularly decide that I am happy being retired and no longer having to deal with idiots in educational settings. And when I say idiots, I do not mean students or teachers. I mean those people who declare complex issues simple dichotomies, or who self-annoint as "experts" or who insist on one over-simplified size fits all. This week's vortex is "trans".

Condemn the transgression not the transgressor

This morning I was in my local supermarket and heard a stentorian admonition to the effect of, "You are a bad boy! You are very naughty!" Sure enough, I rounded the aisle-end to see a clearly-frustrated mother with a 5-ish year-old boy. I have no idea as to what he might have done, but I do recall a philosophy and set of practices I attempted to implement throughout my career.

When "You're fired" is all over Youtube and Tiktok

As a head of school and school director, I occasionally had reason to dismiss an employee which was the second-worst professional conversation I ever had to have. (The first was over what is and is not appropriate clothing and personal presentation for an educator.) I would like to share one of these Cloudflare events which happened to me, and what I endeavored to do every time I found myself on the other end of such a conversation.

Socialism for me but not for thee

I heard this story at my weekly coffee catch-up (kaffeeklatsch?) with a former colleague which was pretty much the same as a family of claims and complaints I heard n my years a principal. In other words, I want what I want today even if it is the opposite of what I wanted yesterday.

News : Baltimore mother accuses school of falsifying son's report card

I was recently sent this video link and was reminded me of something which happened several years ago. I too have a fake transcript.

Using Chat GPT and Other AI

A few years ago I advocated for the prohibition of cellphones in schools. I proposed that they be lockered between five minutes before school to five minutes after school, for whch I received a not inconsiderable amount of opprobrium and vitriol. Now of course the UN advises such a ban, which has been implemented by an increasing number of countries around the world.

Today I am advocating for the prohibition of AI and Chat GPT in schools, not because I am "anti-child" and "anti-education" but because I am pro both.

News : Teachers should (not) receive overtime pay

That so many teachers raise or support overtime pay dismays me, and such a stance shows how far we have fallen. I use "we" collectively because I do not support it and I am certain that those of my generation and those who went before would not either. Even agreeing to debate overtime for teachers harms teachers and teaching, and further pushes us (collectively) to the bottom.

High Quality Pre-School

I am doing a couple of consultancies at the moment in the Pre-School area, one with a new PS Director and the other with a Head of School who is planning on launching a PK - K program next year. Inevitably the question arises as what is a quality pre-school and or pre-school program.