trust

Do We Now Have a Generation of Entitlement?

/ Dave Eberwein / Leave a comment

“We rarely get what we feel we are entitled to in life” – Dr. Laura Schlessinger on The Dr. Laura Program (Sept 6, 2018)

I heard Dr. Laura utter these words as I was driving to a meeting. It kind of hit me like a 2×4. I pulled my car over and wrote it down.

I have heard Dr. Laura Schlessinger on-and-off for the past 20 years.  I like her — but I’ve heard from others who don’t. She’s blunt and doesn’t pull any punches. What’s also interesting to note is that she has been broadcasting on radio since 1975, so I assume that she’s been doing something right for these past 44 years.

So, has she hit the right note? Was she suggesting that our sense of entitlement is bigger than it should be — that feeling an exaggerated sense of self-worth is perhaps the norm in our society?

Pages: 1 2

Year-end Reflections – Lessons from Yoda (Star Wars – v.2)

/ Dave Eberwein / Leave a comment

As this school year draws to a close I have begun to reflect on the year that has been — and its importance to my personal and professional growth. And because I love Star Wars — I have now connected some of this learning to the wise and articulate Yoda — master of the Jedi Knights.

Jedi Master Yoda

So, without further ado … here are some of my 2018-19 reflections as Superintendent. May the Force Be With You:

YOU WILL ONLY FIND WHAT YOU BRING IN

Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Yoda and Luke

Yoda told his young apprentice (Luke Skywalker) to not take his anger, fear and weapons into the dark cave as bringing these would only result in conflict. His words proved to be prophetic.

In life we bring both our negative and positive experiences to a current situation. I reminded myself this year to leave my negative reactions at the door and remain open to new ideas, thoughts and opinions. Fear and anger do not open doors, but close them.

Pages: 1 2

The Average Student Doesn’t Exist

/ Dave Eberwein / 2 Comments
Temperatures Around the World – A Good Use of Average

Comparing average temperatures from around the world is useful if you want to compare this single attribute. It works because you are comparing a single entity across a large sample size.

The Average Student is a Myth

However, if you want to compare a particular student’s achievement against an average student, this is NOT very useful. Most importantly because of the complexity that makes up success. And because of this complexity, I argue that there really is no ‘average student’. Take a look at the chart to the right as an example. Comparing a single measure like knowledge or reading doesn’t take into account the entire learning profile. Each student is unique — each one with strengths and challenges.

The complex world of learning can’t be quantified by a simple average. There are think-tanks and critics who are quick to jump to a single measure to find a story that says we’re not succeeding or using a measure to compare one school against another. They use singular events like a one time FSA score or a provincial exam grade to compare students or schools against each other to make an argument about our educational demise.

Averages just don’t work that way.

Pages: 1 2