Today was the TC10K race, with over 13 000 runners. It is a run that I love to do every year, and somewhere in the middle of doing it, I wonder why I like it. Today, I felt good until the 5K mark, but kept going, at the 8K mark I started to think how I had ruined a great morning, but I persevered and reached my goal. On Friday night, we had our PAC sponsored Fun Fair. When the skies opened and the rain fell, it would have been easy to say "call it off", but our PAC persevered, by adjusting their plans and staging a hugely successful "indoor" Fun Fair. This quality is one that we want to instill in all of our students.
It seems that giving in when things get tough is too easy a choice these days. At school, we work to help our students understand the message that if it is worth doing, it is worth putting our best effort forward and working until we complete it. The staff at David Cameron School continually push our students towards their best work and to ensure they finish what they start. Persevering under difficult circumstances is a great life skill and one that will help our students in their future careers. We as adults need to be great role models for this, and we are.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
School Spirit
This year, Student Voice has offered suggestions on dealing with garbage on the school grounds, how to hand out play equipment at recess and lunch, and what to do on our "spirit days". The photo attached to this blog shows our recent "Crazy Hat Day" with a few of the selections on display that day. These days are important parts of our school community and help engage students. They show students that pride in your school and fun can go hand-in-hand with a focus on academic work. Showing school spirit is an important part of making stronger connections which ultimately lead to greater student results.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Fair and Equal: The Same Thing?
I think that I have mentioned before that in any situation their are a variety of perspectives, including the students, staff members, parents, and even the broader community. With that in mind, it's fair to say that no two situations are ever the same. Which brings me to my point this week, that is, fair does not necessarily mean equal. Equal means that everyone gets the same thing, fair means that people get what they need.
At the essence of fairness is determining the circumstances of each situation and the people involved. What is going to stimulate the greatest amount of learning and move the person forward strengthened? This is how we would want to be treated if we were in a situation where we had made a mistake, and its where students should be so that they can make mistakes and learn too.
A few years ago, the notion of "zero tolerance" emerged as a necessary component of most school codes of conduct. To many, zero tolerance meant that everyone got the same consequence regardless of circumstance. The notion has evolved to the point now where zero tolerance means that something will always be done when rules and beliefs are broken, but the consequence will be fair and in relation to the needs of the individual.
I believe this notion of, what's fair is not necessarily what's equal, is important in allowing students to take risks in their learning and still be held accountable when they make mistakes, but in a way that strengthens them, rather than blaming or shaming them.
At the essence of fairness is determining the circumstances of each situation and the people involved. What is going to stimulate the greatest amount of learning and move the person forward strengthened? This is how we would want to be treated if we were in a situation where we had made a mistake, and its where students should be so that they can make mistakes and learn too.
A few years ago, the notion of "zero tolerance" emerged as a necessary component of most school codes of conduct. To many, zero tolerance meant that everyone got the same consequence regardless of circumstance. The notion has evolved to the point now where zero tolerance means that something will always be done when rules and beliefs are broken, but the consequence will be fair and in relation to the needs of the individual.
I believe this notion of, what's fair is not necessarily what's equal, is important in allowing students to take risks in their learning and still be held accountable when they make mistakes, but in a way that strengthens them, rather than blaming or shaming them.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Why Do We Care So Much?
I watched the movie "The Blind Side" last night, for which Sandra Bullock won a best actress Oscar. The movie was great and got me thinking about disadvantaged people and why we care so much. In the movie, a family ends up taking in a total stranger who has suffered a life of neglect and poverty. They nurture and support him towards his own ultimate success.
As we each go through our day-to-day world we come across so many people that have less than us, and yet, there are a few that we truly "connect" with and want to help. Dan Gardner in his book "Risk" talks about the numbers of people in need as being overwhelming to the average person, we can't relate. However, when these numbers are reduced to a single story or person, it links more easily to our emotions, as a result it is easier for us to act when it is one person than 1000. It still doesn't answer the question of why we do it.
In teaching, there are so many students that cross our paths, that at times the need can be overwhelming and yet, we do what we can for each one of them. Still, there are some students that truly "catch" us and pull us into their story for whom we want to do more, and in doing more, we gain. I think it is as much what we get out of the relationship as what the other person does that makes us care. It is in this shared sense of growth, support, and nurturing that we gain as well. I see first hand examples every day from students, parents, and school staff caring for other individuals.
There is a little boy at school with whom we have struggled over the years. This year has been a standout year for him as many staff have reached out and provided the support and understanding that he needs to be successful. In extending that understanding we too have benefited. I saw him and his father in the school hallway a while ago and stopped them both to say thank-you for helping me to learn the value of patience. In this relationship, we have both gained.
So, why do we care so much? It is in our capacity as human beings that we have the unique gift of empathy. Beyond simply caring for others, it is also a bit selfish as we realize that in giving we also gain.
As we each go through our day-to-day world we come across so many people that have less than us, and yet, there are a few that we truly "connect" with and want to help. Dan Gardner in his book "Risk" talks about the numbers of people in need as being overwhelming to the average person, we can't relate. However, when these numbers are reduced to a single story or person, it links more easily to our emotions, as a result it is easier for us to act when it is one person than 1000. It still doesn't answer the question of why we do it.
In teaching, there are so many students that cross our paths, that at times the need can be overwhelming and yet, we do what we can for each one of them. Still, there are some students that truly "catch" us and pull us into their story for whom we want to do more, and in doing more, we gain. I think it is as much what we get out of the relationship as what the other person does that makes us care. It is in this shared sense of growth, support, and nurturing that we gain as well. I see first hand examples every day from students, parents, and school staff caring for other individuals.
There is a little boy at school with whom we have struggled over the years. This year has been a standout year for him as many staff have reached out and provided the support and understanding that he needs to be successful. In extending that understanding we too have benefited. I saw him and his father in the school hallway a while ago and stopped them both to say thank-you for helping me to learn the value of patience. In this relationship, we have both gained.
So, why do we care so much? It is in our capacity as human beings that we have the unique gift of empathy. Beyond simply caring for others, it is also a bit selfish as we realize that in giving we also gain.
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