N is for Nonsense

 

  

    It has been a long while since I have written. To be honest, I have been distracted by nonsense, or is it; I have been distracted...NONsense! Whichever it is, I am here now reflecting on the nonsense teachers and leaders face each and everyday.

    I am currently reading "What School Could Be" by Ted Dintersmith which was given to me by a great friend (@RomanelliPaul). It is mindnumbing how much nonsense we ask children and adults to do in schools. I love this quote that I just read from the book from a school leader, "We don't need schools that make kids memorize the names of planets. We need schools that inspire kids to find new planets."

What is Nonsense and Why Do We Do It Anyway?

Take a moment and think about what you might do in your day... How much of your time is either spent on either teaching nonsense (material that has no relavence to a child's future or interest) or leading people through a process for compliance (state tests, APPR, new intiatives) rather then learning and growing to help others reach their potential?

How many tests are we going to give kids that require them to memorize something, then to only to forget it after they pass the test? Where is the value? Does this allow our kids to feel valued? What a waste of time... what nonsense!

At our core, we know what is right and what is good for kids and adults, yet we continue to engage in nonsense. When can we stop this cycle? Our schools function today the way they did in the early 1900s. This cycle is probably linked to the fear of change. Change is hard, takes work, is risky, and most people will run from the idea of change. We are human, we like to feel comfortable, and these reasons are nonsense! How can we move together to lead change in our schools so our students enjoy learning, focus on their interests, and feel valued for the things they do? Who is with me?

If I Don't Do This Nonsense, I'll Get In Trouble!

I think we all fall into this mindset in addition to the worry of facing change. Many of us live in own heads and have great ideas that are never shared with anyone. This isolating factor leads us to keep doing what we are doing because we think we do not have a comrade in our corner to iniate change and grow a cheerleading section. It reminds me of a video that illustrates leadership and how it takes guts to be the first follower and then eventually grow a movement:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO8MwBZl-Vc

Now that we understand how to create the momentum to move away from nonsense and if we work together through this journey of change, then we would all be safe from getting into trouble, right? The trick of this idea is that we have to surround ourselves with like minded people who will all stick to the no nonsense mindset and ultimately work together (at all levels) because we know what is best for our kids.

Some More Nonsense

Even if we are lucky enough to be surrounded by amazing team members who have a shared vision and mindset, there will always be nonsense distractors. We can never plan for all the distractors, I say "If we live in the land of 'What Ifs,' than we will never move forward." Meaning we cannot plan for all the distractions, plot out all the speed bumps, or account for all cases; however, we can agree to stay on our path together, recognize that each obsticle is an opportunity to grow together, and always keep our impact potential for kids in focus.

This will be a challenging journey, we will be going against the grain, and will be taking many risks. Our children need us to be the guides who have the wisdom to lead them to grow their potential, feel loved and valued, and instill a growth mindset.

To move ahead with a No-Nonsense mindset work to remember that today's seemingly big worries, will be much smaller in a day, a week, a year, a decade... We can remove the nonsense and move towards BIG picture change together. Now, who's with me?



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