The Curse of Negativity OR This isn't good enough!

It's been reasonably well noted that I have a problem with conformity. Not a 'Cool Hand Luke' or 'dye my mohawk purple' kind of problem, but one I'd like to define as a 'this isn't good enough' type of mentality. The truth is probably somewhere in between. Admittedly, when someone is presenting an idea to me, I'm usually thinking, "How can I make this better?" or "Here's what I'd do" - but I do my best not to blurt such things out loud in a room full of peers. I'm told I have a low success rate with such efforts.

What bothers me though, are those who blindly pretend everything is going just fine and act like, "There's nothing to see here, move along". I've never seen a more powerful Jedi mind trick than the one being conducted by teachers, both the Luddites and those on the so called and generally self-defined cutting edge, and imposed upon the rest of us.

"These are not the results you're looking for."

Nerdy Star Wars references aside (and I'm the sort of nerd who is genuinely pleased that spellcheck changed my 'jedi' to 'Jedi'), I simply cannot understand the mentality of those who defend this grey and dreary education system so vehemently that they attack throw away statements, half thoughts and even jokes as though someone has just challenged their fundamental religious belief system.

Oh wait. Maybe I do get it.

Recently, I watched a thoughtful educator decide to take a break from a regular method of communication. I thought it slightly strange at the time but not being privy to the whole story, I assumed it was the right thing for that person to do. I also assumed, with no evidence at all (of course) it had something to do with being sick of some of the individuals and their 'defensive styles' within that world. I have a limited following in the digital world, but I'd decided that most of them were probably 'like-minds' and understood that sometimes ideas are just that. I also assumed that there was no one reading my work who belonged to the old world of, "I didn't think it so it must be wrong" way of thinking.

I was wrong.

I can safely assume that none of the people reading this now probably think they belong to that mentality but here's how you can tell: if someone has had an idea, just an idea, and you've tried in any way to divert attention from the idea, quash the idea or block the idea... you're a jerk.

Ideas must be challenged, of course. I'm certainly not advocating the support of anything just because it's different or new, - New Coke was the worst idea ever! - but please think more carefully about your response, lest you appear unreasonable. Knee jerk, 'that sounds hard' or 'I'm not doing that' reactions are your baggage - don't use them to stop someone else from achieving something you haven't. 'It doesn't work, we tried that' also belongs to you - you tried that, you failed, not them. Without question, you should give them your knowledge, tell them what problem you couldn't overcome - let them see whether that problem is still too big for their concept too.

Add, don't subtract.

I recently proposed, in a completely throw-away manner, changing the way we think about staffing. I pretty sure this was the point at which people got upset. I hadn't given an idea, I hadn't alluded to anything real, I certainly didn't have a written proposal - but the response to my not-yet-an-idea was swift.

I was wrong.

I was firmly put in my place too. "You're the sort of person who'd like to see people lose their jobs" was the grossest exaggeration but the negativity was solid. Frankly, I would be happy to see bad teachers sacked - but it certainly wasn't my point.

Here was the idea: Maybe we could create virtual or online faculties, where people worked with other people they've probably never even met, so that we could build bigger and better programs with greater diversity and multiple options for the students to follow.

I thought (EDIT - and still think) it was a great idea - but I certainly didn't think it was just my idea or that it was a fully developed idea. Perhaps foolishly, I put my idea out there. I just wanted to work with a bigger team of like minded people.

Didn't the non-like-minded people have a problem with that!

For some, it was genuine misunderstanding - I had no intention of closing down schools and just having an online one, for example. Nope, I just wanted to work with more people, on the same sort of creations, so that we could all work smarter, work less and get back something huge and awesome instead of the usual 'Blood, sweat and tears' style ream of paper that people somehow call a program.

What bothers me the most though, is that this simple idea, one actually used by multiple corporations around the world who seem more than capable of having their staff work on different continents, was mocked by some for the most obscure reasons. Again, the idea may not be well thought through, yet, but the unreasonable amongst my limited reach responded as though I threatened the very foundation of their existence.

I was buoyed by the wise council of others too, people with less 'Ed-cred', people who aren't constantly patted on the back by the same circle of back-patters - those people didn't love or hate the idea - they just wanted to discuss it. Thank you, that was all my little idea wanted! I've made no claims that I've done anything brilliant - I just want to do better.

So here's my final vent. I don't care whether you invented the wheel, or if you've hand built a ship to fly to Mars, you haven't solved the problem that our education system is currently overwhelmed by, you've solved your problems (perhaps) and for that you should be proud - but unless you plan to be the only teacher out there - you need something you don't already have. It shouldn't be wrong to throw around ideas, good or bad. It shouldn't be wrong to question them either, but consider your reasons first, consider your tone second. If you can't do those things, how do you think you can reach the minds of children? Is telling them what to think enough for you?

I hope not.



And yes, oh yes - I'd love to hear your opinion. You've certainly earned it after reading my rant!  EDIT - I seem to be having some difficulties getting comments back online. Honestly, I don't actually remember turning them off...