The first Compass Point…Be an Objector!
This post is part of a series. The earlier posts are linked at the bottom of this post.
It’s a good thing that we’re aware of this hidden dream of ours.
By acknowledging the restlessness we feel, we’re taking the first step to claiming our place among the movers and shakers.
As objectors, we begin by embracing two core mindshifts….
First… Be radically curious.
You know, Objectors treasure curiosity.
All great and important work begins with a curiosity… a great question. Something about the current system we’d like to push back on while also exploring the possibilities of something better!
Ask yourself…
What about the current system of schooling am I curious about?
And then go further….asking questions that can help uncover the possibilities…
What if all learners could learn at their own pace?
Why are we so focused on “learning loss”?
Should we be preparing our learners for more than a job and economic success?
What will the world be like in the 2030s--that decade in which many of our youngest learners will leave us?
These kinds of questions can be tough to ask! Why is that?
Because the most obvious and important realities of schooling? They’re often the ones that are the hardest to see and talk about.
Sometimes, we’re like the fish unaware of the water he’s swimming in.
Being radically curious means questioning all those crazy assumptions behind our current dehumanizing system.
Once we’ve exercised our curiosity and identified those parts of the system we object to, it’s time to take action and invent new possibilities…!
But even before we start inventing new possibilities, we have to first believe this… we can lead.
And here’s the second core mindshift of being an objector...
Lead from anywhere.
I know what you might be thinking…
But I’m not a leader….I’m a teacher.
But you are a leader...and that’s the shift...
Leadership isn't an official title...like a principal, superintendent, or director.
Leadership is found in everyone, including you and me.
…when we choose it.
“Everyone” even means our learners! It means all of us.
When we take initiative...that is, cause something new to happen….we’re being leaders.
We have to embrace this role of leader...the decision to take that first step --- to take action on our questions and curiosities to uncover possibilities. We can’t wait for anyone else.
That person who whines and complains about everything?.....they’re missing leadership. They’ll point out everything that’s wrong...but they’ll never do anything beyond complain about it.
You can’t be an objector if you don’t want to lead.
HG Wells once said….
Civilization is in a race between education and catastrophe.
Our purpose...the reason why we’re in this profession of education...it’s to make sure that education wins that race. And that’s going to require action….leadership...from each one of us.
There’s hope for education in this race….it’s you and me...all of us...taking action….and leading.
We already have the power! We’re the people closest to the problems needing to be solved..we have a unique insider perspective. We need to embrace our role as leaders, regardless of our title.
Now we have two entry points into new ways of thinking about being an objector...two core mindshifts....
Be radically curious.
Navigate from Passively compliant to Actively curious.
And…Lead from anywhere.
Navigate from Leadership is a title to Leadership is a choice, by anyone, to take action.
In the next post, we’ll connect this compass point and its mindshifts to a group of real people..just like you and me...
In your learning environment, how do you currently act as an objector?
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