I had some trouble this week with the reading assignments. Not the actual reading part, but keeping an open mind when I was doing it. You see I am a rather conservative person. I believe that individuals are given certain opportunities and it is up to us to make the most of them. I am still digesting chapters 4-6 but with my background in mind, here are my initial thoughts on each.
Chapter 4 - Being a Contribution
Something makes me uneasy about this chapter. It basically says to me that rather than try to achieve goals, just be happy to do anything. Don't strive to be great, just exist and be happy you did so. Are there people who live like this? Sure, lots of them. But I don't think those are the people who make a difference in life. The dissatisfaction with our condition is what caused mankind to leave caves and discover fire. The constant striving to better ones self and leave a better life for our children is what has driven humanity. It's what drives me. It's why are are all putting ourselves through this EMDT program. I am open to the possibility I don't understand what the author is trying to say, but that's my take so far.
Chapter 5 - Leading from Any Chair
As much as I didn't like the previous chapter, I liked this one. I understand what the authors are trying to say here. They are saying that you can be a leader no matter what your actual job title or role in life. What I don't understand is how you be a leader without wanting to change anything, which is the condition Chapter 4 would leave you in. I look at these chapters as sort of contradictory. In my current job I am trying to make a difference and lead from my chair.
Chapter 6 - Rule Number 6
I agree with Rule Number 6 to a point but there are things in life that MUST be taken seriously. That being said, many people including me could stand to lighten up a bit. I have found that strong emotions tend to cloud one's judgment. It's very Vulcan if you think about it.
I am interesting in reading some comments about my take on these things!
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@Andrew,
ReplyDeleteI really appreciated your comments on the reading because they were so different then mine. It was interesting for me to see how someone could read the same thing, but have such a different take on it. I completely agree with you that striving for change and and making a difference in the world are some of the most wonderful things we should be trying to do everyday. But I disagree with what you said about chapter 4 because I don't think that in looking at our lives and daily actions as contributions we are just just existing. In my opinion, what I think the authors were trying to say is that there is so much negativity and judgment out there about anything you are trying to accomplish, and it's really easy to let that affect what you are trying to do. But if you can look at everything you do, from helping the lady carry her groceries to making changes in the future of education as positive contributions to the world; you no longer have to get caught up in all the drama of success and other people's opinions about your actions. You already deemed your actions worthy and remarkable, you made a contribution and that's what is important. So while I appreciated your skepticism because it made me think through the chapter again, I think there is a big difference between validating your own accomplishments and taking a backseat to life.
I can see where you got your ideas with chapter 4. I think the goal of the point the author was going for was that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Be an asset to everything you are a part of and stop thinking you aren't good enough. Also, I think it isn't all about the comparison of others. For instance, if life was MarioKart, we should use the challenge of our time trial vs. the ghost, instead of racing everyone else in the grand prix. By trying to improve ourselves and compete against ourselves for improvement, then we will better our community because we will all be growing.
ReplyDelete@Andrew Barras
ReplyDeleteI really agree with you when it comes to Rule Number 6, I could tend to lighten up. My biggest problem is at times I feel like when I lighten up, the students’ performance drops. The stricter I am sometimes the better the students perform. I feel very often that I am being strict not for my own needs, but to help ensure that the students perform, but it definitely is a thin line!
I feel the hardest thing for us as educators is that we are passionate about our jobs. It is hard not to take yourself very serious, and in many ways take students actions personally when you are passionate. We have such a desire to share our knowledge and experiences with our students; in many ways we are giving our whole selves. When we give our whole selves and it is not reciprocated it is sometimes hard as humans to not take ourselves too seriously. In the end sometimes we have to see teaching as just a job, but remember that is a very important job!