Rocking the Boat
Trying to balance ones work life and personal life is daunting especially at work. Many companies are insensitive to their employee’s personal values or needs. So employees have to strategies and wait for the right opportunity to speak their mind. In her book Rocking the Boat By Debra Meyerson guidance along with wise advice is given to all who have to work in environments that need changing. Hope and guidance is also given to minorities who try hard to fit in and make the work environment better for themselves and other minorities. But many companies still take the attitude that their way and their culture is flawless and everyone needs to conform to it or leave. Meyerson teaches the reader how to hold on to their values and how to advance ones agendas. She promotes provoking change, but quietly slowly becoming in her words a tempered radical without jeopardizing ones career. Small wins add up to real changes along with powerful stands no matter your race, gender, or sexual orientation. The end result a diverse, adaptive, family-friendly, and socially responsible workplaces. Anyone who is struggling at work and wants to make a positive difference would benefit greatly by reading and adapting Meyerson philosophy and wisdom.
How am I Different
In her book Meyerson Identifies three ways one can be different. I fall in the last category I have philosophical differences, which may conflict with the prevailing values, beliefs, and agendas that are at the heart of the operations in my organization.
For example, I am not a big fan of standardized tests. I do not think they are a good measure of what the kids are learning. Plus, all the test prep is creating a “I hate school” attitude from our students. I am a big fan of being a lifetime learner and having a love for learning, but it seems our school systems are destroying that! Also our high stake testing sends a message to our students that tests are more important than actual learning so we have many charter schools and regular schools that do just that they teach to the test. It is also telling the student if it is not on the test it is not worth learning. What hurts many students the most in my opinion is schools who focus just on testing begin to cut classes like woodshop, drafting, music etc. because they do not improve test scores. How will the student know if he or she has a gift for building things or making beautiful music when they never gat the chance to try.
As the years have passed I have noticed a loss of autonomy because of the new scripts that must be followed, but the saddest thing is the depersonalized environment that has become the norm created between the student and teacher because of the primary focus being the test scores. I work hard to create a safe haven in my class where the students can take a breath, laugh, try being creative and maybe even learn to love learning.
In her book Meyerson Identifies three ways one can be different. I fall in the last category I have philosophical differences, which may conflict with the prevailing values, beliefs, and agendas that are at the heart of the operations in my organization.
For example, I am not a big fan of standardized tests. I do not think they are a good measure of what the kids are learning. Plus, all the test prep is creating a “I hate school” attitude from our students. I am a big fan of being a lifetime learner and having a love for learning, but it seems our school systems are destroying that! Also our high stake testing sends a message to our students that tests are more important than actual learning so we have many charter schools and regular schools that do just that they teach to the test. It is also telling the student if it is not on the test it is not worth learning. What hurts many students the most in my opinion is schools who focus just on testing begin to cut classes like woodshop, drafting, music etc. because they do not improve test scores. How will the student know if he or she has a gift for building things or making beautiful music when they never gat the chance to try.
As the years have passed I have noticed a loss of autonomy because of the new scripts that must be followed, but the saddest thing is the depersonalized environment that has become the norm created between the student and teacher because of the primary focus being the test scores. I work hard to create a safe haven in my class where the students can take a breath, laugh, try being creative and maybe even learn to love learning.
Becoming a Tempered Radical
My tempered radical ways are small but effective. As I have stated before I try to create a safe haven for students in my room from the warpedness they have to deal with on a daily basis. My ways are to quietly resist a system that is obsessed with results, expressed in grades, scores, and ratings. This numerical machine also known as school creates a culture of winners and losers. This is why teachers burn out and leave the profession. This is why many students opt to drop out. I look at and try to promote the individualized qualitative growth of each student. Every student has something in them that is unique, that they can only offer to this world. As sentient beings they have the right to a caring, nourishing, and stimulating education that they will cherish throughout their lives and not abhor it. My goal will always be to make the student interested in learning and become a lifelong learner.
The Challenges I Face
Some of the challenges I face is to be part of a Borg educational culture, but keeping my identity and values. Another challenge is promoting passion, discovery, and intrinsic motivation, while being part of the great collective. One has to work hard not to become a drone and just follow the script. I hope and pray resistance will not be futile!
Goals
Spread the word that our educational system needs to undergo serious reform. Public education has become a plaything for politicians and the testing industry for far too long. We need transparency and accountability because the alternatives are kids dropping out, kids on the streets kids with no future and sadly kids ending up in prison. My goal will be to be an example of a classroom that kids look forward to. Where kids learn critical thinking, creative expression and are hungry for more!
My tempered radical ways are small but effective. As I have stated before I try to create a safe haven for students in my room from the warpedness they have to deal with on a daily basis. My ways are to quietly resist a system that is obsessed with results, expressed in grades, scores, and ratings. This numerical machine also known as school creates a culture of winners and losers. This is why teachers burn out and leave the profession. This is why many students opt to drop out. I look at and try to promote the individualized qualitative growth of each student. Every student has something in them that is unique, that they can only offer to this world. As sentient beings they have the right to a caring, nourishing, and stimulating education that they will cherish throughout their lives and not abhor it. My goal will always be to make the student interested in learning and become a lifelong learner.
The Challenges I Face
Some of the challenges I face is to be part of a Borg educational culture, but keeping my identity and values. Another challenge is promoting passion, discovery, and intrinsic motivation, while being part of the great collective. One has to work hard not to become a drone and just follow the script. I hope and pray resistance will not be futile!
Goals
Spread the word that our educational system needs to undergo serious reform. Public education has become a plaything for politicians and the testing industry for far too long. We need transparency and accountability because the alternatives are kids dropping out, kids on the streets kids with no future and sadly kids ending up in prison. My goal will be to be an example of a classroom that kids look forward to. Where kids learn critical thinking, creative expression and are hungry for more!