“What is drama but life with the dull bits cut out.”
― Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock was on to something when he said that. But television and movie drama are not real life. The dull bits in real life are, many times, absolutely essential in creating a real drama.
What do you remember most about your parents? Was it that vacation they took you on when you were twelve? Or was it the normal and everyday life? I think if they were good parents – then likely the latter is what you remember the most. I know that’s the case for me.
I recently attended a WAPS staff development advisory committee meeting. It was made up of many teachers and some administrators. They talked about aligning their meetings and decisions around district-wide initiatives (i.e., The World’s Best Workforce Goals). They were using Robert’s Rules of Parliamentary Procedures in their decision-making process. I left that meeting absolutely giddy. It was the culmination of something I’ve been advocating for over the past two years. Seeds were planted … and I saw them begin to sprout!
To someone who didn’t know any better – they would think that meeting was as dry as dust. And, yes, meetings are often that. But I see where that meeting leads us as a district. It is a dramatic move toward a progressive reform that few school districts in the United States undertake … empowering teachers in macro-curricular decision making. This is new in our district.
The research of Linda Darling-Hammond and John Hattie inform us that empowering teachers in decision making is the best way to improve student success. We are in the midst of what Hitchcock called “dull bits” – but we must remember that we are not living in a 30-minute television show or 2-hour long movie. We are living in real life. The dull bits are darn important if we are going to be part of the drama of helping our students succeed.
Jim Schul 