Most educators, maybe most of the general public, live their lives in the belief that scarcity is the way of things. There is only so much to go around, so be sure that you fight for your piece of the pie, even if is at the expense of another.
Our attitudes toward scarcity are reflected in our television shows: American Idol, Survivor, The Apprentice, and the Great Race. It’s a seemingly endless list of programs reinforcing the view that the world is a place of one winner and plenty of losers. It’s a world of scarcity.
Most educators have completely bought into the worldview of scarcity. We do not believe in abundance. We can point to years of “doing without" to prove it. I remember a boss who decided that he couldn’t have everyone he managed be a 4. ( Four was the highest performance rating he could give). In his world, even if you were dealing with the crème de la crème, you had to separate the crème into the “best of the crème” and the “least of the crème”.
When I develop my budgets, I always budget for every employee to receive a 4, and hope they earn it. Whether they do, or not; isn’t based on a formula, a curve, or a belief in scarcity.
The “realists” among us may say, “We have a set district budget. We have a set technology budget. We barely pass the budgets we have. We are all competing for a piece of a limited pie. How can you be talking about a mindset of abundance?”
What if we made it our business to create a world of educational abundance? Education is consistently listed as a top priority for our nation, yet our public schools are not valued highly. What if the public’s belief in the importance of education, aligned with its view of the value it is receiving from public schools?
How can we learn to express the value of education in ways that appeal to the heart, the head, and the pocketbook? What if we could rekindle the American spirit of service, volunteerism, and community? What would it take to have the nation rally behind its educators and children!
As leaders we are called on to create visions of the future that may seem impossible to others. Great leaders inspire others to embrace the vision.
Can you envision a world where education is funded abundantly? If not, I invite you to develop a new belief, a belief that change is possible. You don’t have to blindly accept the scarcity of the past, as the only future, the only reality.
I believe we can create a better and more abundant world for our students and for ourselves. Do you?
pete
Yes, I can imagine it. It is a great mistake to limit the change to the amount of money in a budget. Change of attitude, mindset, value and understanding are not items that can be identified in a budget. We can throw all the money at "something" but unless there is the corresponding openness to change, it may do nothing and have little effect. In order for our schools to change, leaders need to have a vision that fosters changes regardless of the budgetary amounts. To believe our schools, teachers and children can change is the first step. To see change and believe it can happen will inspire others. That synergy will foster a change that providing money can never do. We have all the necessary parts available to create incredible change but it is the fear of change itself that inhibits most not the lack of funds.
Posted by: Kelly Christopherson | June 06, 2007 at 11:47 PM
I have a question -- how do we know our educational system is not adequately funded? How will we know until ineffective teachers and administrators our dismissed, the money spent on silly programs such as certification is ended, fads are stopped being followed, schools and educators stop being more than they are suppose to be and all this saved money goes into the classroom?
I am not willing to put more money into education until public education cleans up its act. One of the biggest problems with public education today is lack of accountability (don't talk to me about NCLB as it is a joke and states are lowering cut scores). Education needs new blood in it -- not people who have been in the system since kindergarten themselves and know nothing else. The system needs to be revamped and then we can talk about adequate funding.
As I see it know, as a very involved and informed parent, education is broken, people in it are too close to the subject and it is past time for a major overhaul. At the end of the day I do a better job educating my children than most of their teachers!
Posted by: Elizabeth | June 07, 2007 at 04:22 AM
Elizabeth;
Thanks for the comment. I think your comments are an illustration of a fairly widespread perception of education held by the public.
Until that perception changes, many public schools will continue to face scarcity issues.
I'm not sure where you live, or what your local schools are like; but we have an uneven system of funding.
In some city/urban schools it's easy to answer your question, "how do we know our educational system is not adequately funded?"... just look at the buildings. Broken windows, not enought desks or kids, buildings with peeling walls and leaking roofs...to say nothing of a shortage of teachers.
In other regions it is not as obvious...nice physical facilities; but cutbacks in staff, elimination of the arts and music; reductions in clubs and sports...anything not considered reading-writing-science-arithmetic.
Education is like any large industry or institution...it has its stars and heroes who do amazing things every day, in very difficult circumstances...and it has a small group who aren't up to the job and should be doing something else.
In my life, I've had both; however, the great teachers I have had, have changed my life. It is because of them (and my family) that I am who I am. I am so grateful for their work.
My hope is that all kids can have teachers (as I did) that see and develop their unique gifts and at the same time help them acquire the skills and knowledge they'll need to live successful and fulfilling lives.
Elizabeth, we need the passion you have for change.
pete
Posted by: pete reilly | June 07, 2007 at 07:46 AM
Kelly,
I agree, money has little to do with change.
I was speaking of the "mindset of scarcity" and how it affects so many aspects of education.
My references to change, were focused on changing our "scarcity mindsets". We can create abundance in all aspects of our lives, and our professions, not just the financial parts; but we need to believe it is possible first.
pete
Posted by: pete reilly | June 07, 2007 at 09:59 AM
Aren't we all to blame for this mindset. People in general are always looking at the negative. Rarely do people look at what they have. Most people spend their time thinking about what they don't have. This mindset extends to education. Business, government, and education all have a role in promoting the positive and the possible. Business should be promoting the absolute crucial part education will play in developing the skills to compete in the global market. They should, rightfully point out what needs to be fixed, but they should also point out the strengths of our educational system and come along aside to build upon those strengths. Government has the same responsibility. We have a lot going for us. Lets take some time to remember that.
Posted by: Rob Jacobs | June 09, 2007 at 01:32 PM
Rob;
Amen to that. Scarcity can also be an excuse for inaction.
pete
Posted by: pete reilly | June 10, 2007 at 07:21 PM