Systems

Change for the sake of change is not a good idea. Change needs to happen because of internal or external pressures. Many systems which exist in education were not the idea of one individual, they were created by years of pressures. Just recently I was interviewed by a prospective elementary school administrator. She asked my opinion on the current teacher assignment system in grade school. In particular, this future administrator was questioning why we don't have subject area specialist in grade school. In other words, why isn't grade school curriculum delivered like high school curriculum. Teachers who are passionate about mathematics teach math, and teachers passionate about science teach science. What tends to happen in grade school is that teachers who are hired are passionate about teaching children and perhaps some of the curriculum. The idea of having subject area specialist at the grade school level appeals to me. HOWEVER, I am a high school educator and I do not have an understanding as to why the systems are in place in the grade school. I do know that the systems are there for a reason. Darwinism is alive and well in the creation of organizational systems. Educational systems change when there are pressures and the current systems are there for a reason. This does not mean there is not room for change. Leaders need to live in the current system and be the internal change agent. Leaders need to ask questions about why things are done the way they are and make sure that the systems in place help to achieve the vision of the organization.

We live in a time when the pressures on educational systems are great. Technology, flattening of the world, financial pressure are all creating stresses on our current educational systems. We will see major changes in the next 10 years.