The topics discussed in episode 4 are near and dear to our hearts. As Mike discussed in episode 1, children are incredibly vulnerable. After reflecting on this statement, we realized how important this issue is and decided to identify how children are vulnerable and what we can do to bring about change. In the first of a five-part series, we discuss the mixed messages that kids receive at school and how this not only makes them vulnerable, but also impacts their humanity. We shed light on the toll that the school environment has on teachers, who love to teach, but are leaving the profession because of the norms that have persisted inside schools for so long. Even though this episode goes deep and might even be uncomfortable, it will inform, motivate, and inspire you to create educational change in your corner of the world. 

Quotes

Nelson Mandela said “We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in any society, a life free from violence and fear.”

“Revolutions don’t wait for legislation. They emerge from what people do at the ground level. Education doesn’t happen in the committee rooms of the legislatures or in the rhetoric of politicians. It’s what goes on between learners and teachers in actual schools. If you’re a teacher, for your students you are the system. If you’re a school principal, for your community, you are the system. If you’re a policy maker, for the schools you control, you are the system.” So, if you are a parent or an aunt, or a grandparent, who has kids in school – you are the system and together, we can create change.” (Robinson, p. xxiii). Robinson, K. (2015) Creative Schools: The Grassroots Revolution That’s Transforming Education New York, NY: Penguin Books

 Norm: Kids receive mixed messages that make them feel like submission to authority is more important than their own humanity.  

Existing Belief: I need to use my position as an adult to control the behavior and desires of children.

New Belief: My job as an adult/teacher/coach/mentor is to see the unique value in each child and bring out the best in them.  

Existing Belief: My adult perspective and needs are more important than those of children because I am older and I know better.  

New Belief: A kid's perspective is equally important and we, as adults, can learn a lot from children.  

According to Mike, this is the “golden episode” because it addresses the issues that put our very humanity at risk. The topics covered here may be difficult to discuss, and they may force us to think about things we would rather brush under the carpet, but we believe that they must be brought to the forefront for our human race to thrive. Mike and Esther discuss the hard realities of school shootings and the impact this has on teachers and leaders. They also highlight the great work that is being done by children and adults, and how they are changing the world by valuing the humanity of others. Mike and Esther also discuss how the Drake Academy of Excellence is shifting existing systems and deeply embedded societal norms to provide a better model of education and leadership. 

Although this episode forces you to face the realities of what is happening in schools, it will also inspire you to hear the stories of those who are on a mission to bring humanity to this world!

Quotes

Dalai Lama said “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.”

“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” Desmond Tutu

Martin Luther King Jr. said “We need leaders not in love with money but in love with justice. Not in love with publicity, but in love with humanity.”

According to Education Week, there were 29 school shootings in 2021, 87 since 2018, that’s 60 deaths.

3 Key Takeaways

1 – Today, it seems that just raising our kids morally and ethically doesn’t mean that they won’t be a victim of senseless violence. We need more people to do the work they are passionate about to help society. We each need to ask ourselves what we can do to help.

2 – Rather than training teachers to prepare for and carry out lock down drills, we need to look at the root cause of these behaviors and get ahead of the problem. One way to do this is to prioritize the basic human needs of those in our schools - the need to feel acceptance, value, purpose, and meaning. 

3 – Trust in the ripple! It only takes one person to make a difference, and that one person can touch another, and that person, another, and before you know it, many people are impacted. Our society needs to prioritize the humanity of ourselves and of those we encounter. 

NORMS:

1st NORM: School Shootings have become somewhat commonplace and don’t surprise us much anymore. 

MENTAL SHIFT:

Existing belief: People who act out deserve to be treated how they make me feel.

New Belief: The poor behavior of others gives me an opportunity to meet their essential human needs. 

2nd NORM: Teachers and students participating in lock down drills as a part of any regular school day. 

MENTAL SHIFT:

Existing belief: Having a human reaction to what I am asked to do as a teacher is too much work. Nothing phases me anymore.

New belief: My human response is the most valuable quality I possess. 

In this episode, Mike and Esther dive into the common issues seen in education and leadership and how each problem moved them to action. By acknowledging the importance of humanity and the role that it plays in shifting our systems, this episode will take you from the realities of today into the hope of a better future for children, teachers, and leaders. 

3 Key Takeaways

1 – There is danger in remaining silent. In the absence of conversation, people make assumptions and become complacent. When it comes to the issues we face today, we cannot afford to be silent. We must take action. 

2 – Complacency hinders growth.

3 – The environment that our children are immersed in is impacting everyone, even if we are teaching values and morals at home.