What is education? Club access

I recently met up with a former colleague, Jo, who has been teaching internationally for several years. Jo had several tales to tell, but one in particular caught my ear. Her school was small and family-owned, solid and not stellar but doing pretty well in its niche. The parents-founders passed on, and the children-no-educators sold it to a large international venture-capital-backed corporation. Now, I am no Gordon Gekko, but I would still venture to define venture-capitalism as "we want a significant return quickly". How does that appear in an educationally-focussed mission statement, and in daily operations?

Teacher questions

I consult to several schools and the other day. whilst rambling on about one of my favorite topics, I thought I should share my pearls here. To wit, the importance of teacher questions. I know that this hugely significant tool in the toolbox has been widely covered elsewhere, but my spin on it is slightly less widely-covered. You see, I think teachers should be asking fewer questions.

Honest (re-)branding

A non-public school* near me has recently changed its message and this is a good thing. Why? Because previously, they had not been telling the truth.

School red in the face over "blackface"

I was just sent an articele about a recent settlement involving a California non-public school (below) and I must confess that I had missed the original story. I must also say that I find the original decision appalling and think that the principal should have been fired, and the Board receive mandatory training for appointing and then supporting her.

Mind Your Language; words matter

While I see it's re-direction value, I've never really agreed with the sticks and stones mantra. I have seen first-hand how statements, asides and poor phrasing can be destructive, especially with girls and especially with pre- and early-adolescent girls. My latest parent consult bears this out.

Advice to new middle leaders? CYA

In my recent semi-retired state, I am doing some coaching here and there. Some of my support relates to subject knowledge and methodologies, some to program design and implementation, and some to leadership. Last week, I had my first session with a new Head of Department, and as is my wont, the theme of this guidance was "CYA".

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.