Let me offer my
comments relative to the Bianchi presentation, even though I wasn't there
and don't live in Winona anymore. I have, however, followed some of the
comments leading up to his presentation, have read about his school and ideas,
have read the few comments on-line today, and have listened over the years to
what makes organizations tick:
1. The flavor of any
organization comes from the top. My experience is that companies, schools,
churches, families, and any other coherent group gets its character from the top
of the organization. If the leaders are strong and clear, the organization
thrives. If they are not, chaos, apathy, or anarchy set in. Paul
Bianchi seems to be an inspired and inspiring leader and it makes sense that his
school thrives. The "top" in the Winona school system is, I submit, a
triumvirate: the School Board, the Superintendent, and Parents. If all
three of these leaders are clear and supportive of a vibrant learning
community, the students will thrive. If one or more is not, some
students will be less successful. Ironically, teachers are at the front
line and are of greatest importance, but they are within a system set up by the
"triumvirate".
2.
The greater the commitment to "shared values" the more successful a
community will be. When I was in Architecture School we studied
"intentional communities" in order to design such a community as a class
project. We studied communes and religious communities all over the
country (including the Wiscoy Valley community near Winona). Our
conclusion about these "self-contained" communities is that the ones with the
strongest commitment to shared values thrive, while those with weaker commitment
eventually disbanded. That is why the Amish and Mennonites continue to
this day and why most communes from the 60s don't. For a public school
system the trick is to agree on shared values, something much easier for a
religious or other private school to dictate.
- Phil Carlson,
Mpls
