[Winona Online Democracy]
Title: Re: [Winona] Good Help Wanted
As I think
of this discussion on the challenge of finding workers for Winona
companies, I recalled a wonderful article that I've shared pretty
widely in Winona by Tony Wagner from Phi Delta Kappan , just 5 years
ago now. It's titled Leadership for Learning: An Action Theory of
School Change
The full link is: http://www.pdkintl.org/kappan/k0101wag.htm
I
think this pertains to our WOD discussion:
"But the other changes -- changes in all
students' life circumstances and motivations for learning -- represent
perhaps the greatest dilemma for many teachers and are much less well
understood. The traditional motivations for learning, the "sticks
and carrots" teachers have relied on to get generations of
students through school -- fear and respect for authority and the
belief that sustained hard work equals success and happiness -- don't
have much traction for many young people today, regardless of their
social class, skin color, or proficiency in English.
Adult authority has much less influence on young people today, for
several reasons. First, as a culture, we have grown increasingly
skeptical of all forms of authority. Respect for authority is no
longer automatic; it must be earned. But far more serious for students
is the absence of adults from their lives. Single-parent families,
longer work hours, and large, anonymous schools in which very few
adults interact with students outside of class all contribute to
students' sense of isolation and lack of respect for adult authority.
Most young people spend too much time alone and are essentially being
reared by their peers. Many feel ignored or neglected and harbor
resentment toward adults.
This leaves just the work ethic as the remaining dull tool in too many
teachers' small bag of tricks for motivating students. But
"downsizing" and our "shopping mall" society have
conspired to render this appeal ineffectual for most students as well.
They've seen too many people work hard and get laid off, and they've
seen too many ads that tell them to have it all, have it now, and get
it without effort. Students today have been acculturated to believe
that the aim of life is to consume, not to create. Unless there is an
immediate payoff, most simply don't see much point in working hard,
especially in schools where the tasks are often boring and unrelated
to their needs or interests." From Pages 4-5
This quote points to some changing times. It's not as simple
as cracking down on unmotivated students. Is there a parallel
between the old work ethic of Danielle Durnen featured in the Winona Daily News
article and what Wagner is describing? I don't think we should
see it as all tapped out but rather consider some pretty
creative community responses in having all students have a
higher sense of purpose and in seeing a future for
themselves. This might call us to step back and look at the delivery
system of education and how the community's involved. I'd
sure recommend reading Wagner's whole
article.
--
Randy Schenkat 1358 Skyline Dr. Winona, Mn
55987 507-452-7168
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