From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Superintendent Winona Area Public Schools and father of 3 grown children
Paul Bianchi's unconventional approach to his conversation with the audience tonight demonstrated leadership abilities that have nurtured the Paideia School as it has grown and matured over the past 30 years.
His talk brought me back to the reform movement of the late 60's and early 70's when I started my career in education. The promising innovations that were so much a part of my induction to teaching have been forgotten. Paul?s description of the Paideia School experience shows that they may be forgotten in much of the country, but are still alive in spirit and practice at Paideia. He encouraged all of us as educators to "be flexible and skeptical toward conventional wisdom". We need to examine new ideas to make sure they are educationally sound, not just something that should be adopted because "others are doing it".
I was excited to hear about a school that was not bound by tradition or ideology. Where learning is valued for all involved in the enterprise. I loved his example of a "PGO"(Penetrating Glimpse into the Obvious) that parents and teachers need to work together and occupy the same common ground. We need to view schools as places to educate parents.
Paul's emphasis on elevating the value of the professionals in our schools hit a chord with me. Improving the working conditions for our professionals is one place where we can make a deliberate effort to show that we value their abilities and contributions. Paul commented that a lot of what happens in school is not controllable due to the many variables that come together in the classroom. But we can control how we treat and honor our professionals.
Finally, I was struck by his admonition to "remember the present" in our classrooms. Paul observed that in school most of our efforts point toward the future, and by doing so we sacrifice attention to what happens today. We need to "live in the moment" and experience of life, not just prepare for it.
Thank you to Tim Hatfield, the Counselor Education Department, and Winona State University for providing this stimulating experience.
Eric Bartleson, Ph.D Superintendent of Schools Winona Area Public Schools 654 Huff Street Winona, MN 55987 Phone (507) 494-0861 Fax (507) 494-0863
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Randy Schenkat 1358 Skyline Dr. Winona, Mn 55987 507-452-7168
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