There’s too much anger and finger-pointing in our world — so much blaming of others — especially these days.
Some people and communities are definitely more fortunate than others — I have many things that others do not.
If we all took a bit more time to practice gratitude — for both the big and little things — I’m pretty sure our world would be a better place.
That’s all.
I’ve been doing a lot of recent wondering about the large amount of loud, social media noise that is crowding out more rationale thoughts and ideas. Part of my musing is how the education system should be responding to it in a way that builds a capacity in students to be able to discern truth from fiction — facts from opinions.
Let me go back a few years to my late teens and early 20s.
My undergraduate training in science provided me with an excellent set of tools to understand the world — to find reasons or explanations for a lot of things:
Science uses The Scientific Method which, at its heart, is about ‘careful observation coupled with rigorous skepticism‘. Science uses a systematic process of working to disprove a current understanding about something, until the overwhelming evidence points to the truth — to an accepted fact.
I also love that science remains open to being wrong — that it challenges our assumptions and beliefs to ensure that bias is not part of the explanation.
REALITY IS MORE THAN FACTS
Yet, as I’ve grown in my career and throughout life, I’ve also come to understand that the ‘black and white’ world of science is not the complete answer. Reality is a combination of both the facts in front of us, and our personal experiences — experiences that help to create the context surrounding the facts.
Context: The conditions or situations that give meaning to an event.
Context adds the colour to the ‘black and white’ world of facts. The reality that we each experience lies enveloped in our own personal history and context.
By taking the time to understand the ‘tapestry’ or colour of the situation you can start to forge a deeper understanding of what lies before you — helping you create a better solution to whatever problem or situation exists.
So, what do context and our own history have to do with public education? I’m glad you asked!
CRITICAL THINKING
If a goal of public education is to ‘have educated citizens who thrive in a changing world’, then preparing them to be critical consumers of their world is essential. Students need to be able to understand more than facts — they need to be able to examine the context in which they observe these facts and be aware that a person’s own history and perceptions may be affecting their understanding.
Critical Thinking is an absolute necessity for our students to be the citizens we need in a world filled with fake news, social media bias and opinions camouflaging as fact:
BC Education: Critical … thinking encompasses a set of abilities that students use to examine their own thinking and that of others. This involves making judgments based on reasoning, where students consider options, analyze options using specific criteria, and draw conclusions.
Sounds great. We want students to critically examine the information before them, ask relevant questions and move their understanding forward.
But, can we objectively measure Critical Thinking? Should we even try?
It’s not like you can easily put a number beside Critical Thinking to see if it improves over time. And, because something isn’t easily measured, it doesn’t mean it isn’t important — As examples, Character, Integrity and Honesty are three traits that I would argue are very important but aren’t easily measured.
Several cognitive experts set out to come to an agreed definition of Critical Thinking at a Learning and the Brain conference. And to save you the time of wondering … No agreement was reached. In fact, they disagreed on a number of issues surrounding the concept.
Curiosity Leads to Thinking Critically
But, here’s some of what they did agree on about Critical Thinking …
FINAL THOUGHTS
Here are my top 5 take aways to help students be well prepared in distinguishing reality from what is not reality:
That’s a pretty good list.
- Science gives us a foundation;
- Critical Thinking can lead to understanding context and its impact on the facts; and
- Students become better, more informed citizens.
Important concepts in a world of uncertainty, hyperbole and unsubstantiated opinions. And there’s no shortage of that these days.
In today’s ever-evolving K-12 landscape, system leaders need to be competent in more than instructional leadership and day-to-day operations. Effective leaders require an understanding of human emotions and the ability to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics.
Being in the ‘people business’ it is critical for our leaders to have an Emotional Intelligence as much as it is critical for them to be outstanding educators.
Emotional Intelligence (EI): the ability to recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions, as well as the emotions of others.
In leadership, EI is a critical component that can significantly impact our collective performance, and most importantly employee and student satisfaction. EI will make-or-break your system. If our leaders are attuned to themselves and others, our system will run more smoothly and effectively. Problem solving becomes better as do the resulting solutions.
Let me explain …
At its core, Emotional Intelligence is about self-awareness. Leaders with high EI are acutely aware of their own emotional states and how these states affect their thoughts and behaviors. This self-awareness doesn’t make the EI aware person immune from errors, but it does provide them with the ability to be reflective and hopefully more effective. EI allows them to maintain control over their emotions, even in stressful situations, to make more rational decisions. By understanding their own emotional triggers, leaders can avoid reactive behaviors that might negatively impact their team. Having a high EI does not mean that one will never become upset when triggered, but it does mean that if you are a person with high EI you can recognize your triggers and minimize your emotional responses.
One of the key benefits of Emotional Intelligence is the ability to build and maintain strong relationships. Leaders with high EI are skilled at empathizing with their team, understanding their perspectives, and addressing their concerns. This empathy fosters a sense of trust and respect, which is essential for effective collaboration and teamwork. When employees feel understood and valued, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated. The high EI leader is also genuine in their empathy and understanding — they are believable and transparent.
Effective communication is a hallmark of great leadership, and emotional intelligence plays a crucial role in this area as well. Leaders with high EI are adept at both verbal and non-verbal communication. They can read body language, tone of voice, and other subtle cues to gauge how their messages are being received. This ability to ‘read the room’ enables them to adjust their communication style to better connect with their audience, whether it’s delivering feedback, resolving conflicts, or providing an inspirational address.
Leaders with high EI understand what drives their team members and can tailor their leadership approach to meet those needs. They recognize and celebrate individual and team achievements, provide constructive feedback, and create a positive and supportive work environment. This ability to connect with and inspire their team is what can drive a school district towards better student outcomes.
As Superintendent, I realize that we can only get better when our team believes that they are a part of something bigger — that they play an important role in our future and that their leadership is attuned to their needs.
A positive work environment is essential for employee well-being and organizational success. Effective leaders play a pivotal role in creating and maintaining such an environment. They are aware of the emotional climate in their workplace and take proactive steps to address any issues that may arise. By promoting a culture of openness, respect, and inclusivity, they can ensure that employees feel safe and supported. They demonstrate the behaviors and attitudes they expect from their team such as empathy, resilience, and integrity. By modeling these qualities, they set a standard for their team to follow and create a culture of emotional intelligence within the organization.
I am fortunate to be in a school district that is large enough for us to do some creative things, yet small enough for me to make personal connections with many of our staff. Celebrating personal milestones, pulling the entire school board office together for a staff meeting, or writing personalized notes are just a few of the ways to make connections to ensure that our team is acknowledged, included and respected.
The Power of Why 