Lifelong Learning

What does "lifelong learning" mean? Many feel lifelong learning is a term which applies to folks that are constantly retooling for that next job. Others say that it is a term which fits those individuals who are trying to learn all they can about their current vocation. I feel lifelong learning is what individuals choose to do in the pursuit of happiness. It might be about making yourself more marketable, or becoming the expert in your field, but for me it is expanding your knowledge to help one enjoy hobbies.

I have used the tools learned in school to continue my education to become a bee keeper, and arborist, a farmer, tractor mechanic, James Bond Poster aficionado, tobacco can collector, a horse teamster, a home brewer, a farrier, and a pilot. I am constantly reading and have at least three books and six magazines going at once. Right now I am reading Laurie King's Justice Hall, William Kerschner's Student Pilot Manual, and Carol Dweck's Mindset. I subscribe and read National Geographic, Ford Fordson Tractors, Percheron News, Association for Supervision of Curriculum Development, Dexter Cattle Association, Pilot Trainer, Illinois Computer Educators, Special Education Technology Connections and Airplane Owners and Pilots Association magazines.

Twitter in School Administration

I am new in the world of twitter and decided to follow some high school principals who are using this communication tool. It seems to be a great way to share thoughts, links, quotes, and announcements to people who are interested in staying connected with your school. Principals can use this avenue to keep the community abreast of the what is happening in the school. Information about school athletics, academics and announcements can be shared with stakeholders.

Suspensions

In my role as a disciplinarian at Conant High School, I have been involved with many suspensions in the last two years. Suspensions are the last thing and educator wants to enforce. My whole career has been trying to connect students with learning. Then how can I suspend a student from school and withhold one of the most precious of all commodities, education. I seldom suspend a student and when I do it is for the benefit of the high school community. It is rarely for the benefit of the student who is being suspended. I feel there are some acts, such as fighting, that an out-of-school suspension is warranted. The students who witnessed the fight see that the assailant is out of school for a time. This sends a signal to all other students that the infraction will not be tolerated. In-school suspension is not an option for these students because other students will see them before and after school and then assume that there was not a punishment for fighting.

It is a fine line that administrators follow. What is best for the student, or what is best for the school community. We try to make the decision based in the information we have and always use out-of-school suspensions as a last resort.

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.

Education Challenges

The major reason I went to high school was for the social aspect. Learning was a consequence of attending, however learning was not my main reason for attending. I enjoyed sports and working with others.

Today's high school needs to find new ways to entice students. Schools today tend to lessen the social aspect students are seeking. Texting and Facebook are ways in which our current students socialize, most schools don't allow access to these social tools. In so doing, schools are taking one of the biggest incentives student have to go to high school.

In my day, when students were suspended (not speaking from personal experience) they had a boring time at home and could not wait to get back to school. Reruns of the I Love Lucy show was the highlight of the day. Today, suspended students can stay connected with friends through texting and Facebook. Video on demand and video games make the time at home a holiday.

Schools need to find ways to hook students into school. Allowing connections to social media during lunch hours may be one way. How about creating a lunch lab???