tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179740565267828546.post2347058047580300087..comments2024-02-04T02:13:50.444-08:00Comments on The Learning Nation: No Us vs.Them. Just Us.birklearnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07368990673349142540noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179740565267828546.post-5971389322710235332011-01-04T20:57:08.355-08:002011-01-04T20:57:08.355-08:00I still remember my very first staff meeting as a ...I still remember my very first staff meeting as a teacher and wondering why the administrators weren't around for part of the meeting. I was told that they weren't part of the teacher union and therefore weren't allowed into that part of the meeting. My naive answer was to ask why? Weren't we all here for the same reason? <br />As I have moved into an administrative role 9 years later my attitude is the same. Parents, custodians, SEA's, Board Office staff, teachers and administrators should only be focused on engaging students and helping them learn. <br />Well said Cale!<br />Chris SandorChris Sandornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179740565267828546.post-62643221193524796462011-01-02T14:56:30.975-08:002011-01-02T14:56:30.975-08:00Thanks to each of you for your fine comments. Lab...Thanks to each of you for your fine comments. Labelling is something that we are not supposed to do to our children in education, so why would we do it to eachother? <br /><br />Tanya, it is very refreshing to hear that you had positive relationships across your career as a student. It is my hope that students that I have at my school feel the same way about our administrative team. I know that we can always do better, but I hope our students and staff feel like they can come to us and work with us at any time.<br /><br />Thanks again for all of the thoughts!birklearnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07368990673349142540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179740565267828546.post-86746881461289917852011-01-02T00:04:15.062-08:002011-01-02T00:04:15.062-08:00It is unfortunate that people make assumptions abo...It is unfortunate that people make assumptions about others based on the role others are in. I think this is why it is so crucial for colleagues to develop positive professional relationships with each other. When people believe their colleagues genuinely care about them, roles no longer become important. This allows for true professional dialogue where a diversity of perspectives are expressed and embraced. <br /><br />The digital conversations that we are all engaging in demonstrate that this is an environment where roles do not matter and each other's views are respected. <br /><br />As always Cale, thank you for such a great post!<br /><br />AaronAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08329754143774919281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179740565267828546.post-43360488449309170102011-01-01T17:20:02.886-08:002011-01-01T17:20:02.886-08:00Hallelujah! This is just exactly perfect. I have b...Hallelujah! This is just exactly perfect. I have been banging this same drum for a while now, so I am delighted to see similar thoughts. It's not us. vs. them. It's simply we the people. Let's unite and help the kids better receive what we are seeking to deliver: http://bit.ly/9dHjpx.<br /><br />Here's a video tutorial teaching kids how to better receive their education: http://bit.ly/egZakRFred Hagemanhttp://achievingthepossible.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179740565267828546.post-8886216574899935892011-01-01T17:15:28.483-08:002011-01-01T17:15:28.483-08:00Hi Cale,
I'm currently a university student a...Hi Cale,<br /><br />I'm currently a university student and a former student of Chris Kennedy's Students Live Program. I just wanted to say what a great post you wrote. I really liked your execution of ideas and how you used the sports team analogy. It truly captures the essence of what you want to say, and I agree with you 100%.<br /><br />I just graduated from high school a mere 6 months ago, and it really allowed me to reflect on my years of formal education. Yes, there is always a sort of hierarchy for everyting, but we need to respect each other, regardless of where one is on the "ladder". In high school I had good relations with the principals and vice principals and worked along side them for student led projects. I was lucky to go to a school where the admin treated everyone with respect and really tried to break that hierarchy of "us" vs "them" (in this case, admin vs students). I also want to mention Steve Cardwell, the Superintendent of the Vancouver School Board. I've met him a few times and he is really genuine and wants to connect with studnets. He didn't make me feel like he was in a position of power above me, but treated me as an equal.<br /><br />We all have similar goals, and like you said, we must work together to achieve these goals. <br /><br />Thank you again for the post, and I believe we really need more teachers like you and Chris Kennedy in our districts. Both of you are very innovative and are the future of education in BC.<br /><br />TanyaTanyahttp://www.catcherintheskye.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179740565267828546.post-44042232143201876362011-01-01T16:03:32.213-08:002011-01-01T16:03:32.213-08:00It is interesting that many of us, particularly wi...It is interesting that many of us, particularly with a British Coumbia context, are writing about similar hopes for the coming year. I absolutely agree with you - there is a better way. One of the things we are doing and can continue to do, is model this better way in the digital space - it is not about roles, we should be discussing ideas.<br /><br />I have never heard the Board Office refered to as the "Star Chamber," before I assume this is a compliment - perhaps it is not because we are all "stars" in the Board Office.<br /><br />Well said - let's all commit to modelling this behaviour this year!ChrisKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07654802187244357683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179740565267828546.post-15276304182848547972011-01-01T14:29:44.849-08:002011-01-01T14:29:44.849-08:00YES! Totally agree- the us vs them has to go. The...YES! Totally agree- the us vs them has to go. There are only we- we need to care about our students, all of us. (and work collaboratively to make a difference) <br />Thanks for sharingDodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08459933885890643795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8179740565267828546.post-46894760187621091822011-01-01T13:53:04.073-08:002011-01-01T13:53:04.073-08:00Perfectly stated. Nothing annoys me more than supp...Perfectly stated. Nothing annoys me more than supposedly "funny" dark-side remarks. Teachers do not prefer to be generalized into one category, so it is troublesome to me when some people lump all administrators in the "if-only-our-admin-were-on-board-we-could-do-this-or-this" category. <br /><br />Let's hope 2011 is the year of improved educational partnerships and fewer remarks such as those you indicated above.Lyn Hilthttp://lynhilt.comnoreply@blogger.com