Learning How To Respectfully Deal With Problems

Over on The Gradebook blog, JohnM made the following comment:


Florida & Tampa Bay schools blog - The Gradebook: "I don't remember, is it time to complain about the successes of these students in spite of the lousy teachers or is it time to complement the teachers on a super job working with these students. I KNOW it wasn't a cooperative effort on the part of both (actually all three if you include the parents) the hard work of the students as well as the diligent work on the part of the teachers involved. Kinda reminds me of the (you name the religion, atheists stop reading) guy who fell off a cliff and prayed for help. Just then, a tree reached out and grabbed his overalls, so, he said, never mind I got it. Some of these schools did not do very well on the state grading, some did OK, and others received an 'A.' It just goes to show you what can be done when everybody stops B#$ching and goes to work solving problems. The talent, work ethic and abilities are out there, just hidden by the enablers and rewritten rule books.
Job WELL DONE, students, teachers, parents and schools. Keep it up!
Posted by: JohnM | September 17, 2009 at 02:39 PM"


He started out mocking an often heard issue, and then ended up presenting some very good insight into how problems in our education system get in the way of progress.

I have found that a lot of people do not get it when they read or hear mockery. I write a lot of mockery, and I have seen how some people react to what I have written. A lot of people in our radio and TV media use mocking statements to try to make a point, and the very people that the point is aimed at misses the mockery, thinks the orator is going further loony, and the chasm enlarges.

The point that JohnM makes is that talent, work ethic and abilities of all partners (students, parents, teachers, administrators, etc) is undone by "enablers and rewritten rule books."

The metaphor fits. Wear it.