Social Promotion and Not Promotes Failure

Leadership needs to stop thinking in black and white

Social promotion of school children brings home the failure of our public leaders to develop creative solutions to the challenges that face our communities. There is not doubt in anyone’s mind that allowing children to pass through the public school system without learning to

read and do math is wrong. There is also no doubt in anyone’s mind (despite the schools system’s endless need to conduct studies to quantify the outcomes) that holding children back—in essence flunking them—has an enormously negative impact on their ability to continue to function as students.

Why is the answer to pass or to fail? As with most issues, the answers come in the gray areas and ought to be found in working with the students, families, and educators who are in the classrooms with these children. Instead of creating more problems for these students and the rising third-graders who are now in classrooms with peers who are a year older and angry about their “failure,” why can’t we find ways to bolster these students’ abilities while keeping them with their social peers? More likely than not these students need additional attention to bring these skills up to par, sticking them in a classroom with younger students to repeat the same materials doesn’t address their needs.

Too often today’s elected officials want to find good political positions to take—what they miss is how often these decisions create bad public policy. I encourage parents to take a stand not against the social promotion policies, but rather for the development of policies that actually address the issue of students who are not learning and create solutions that work for all students.

May 4th, 2009 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

Obama’s 100 Days: The Rational Peacemaker Needs To Be More of Himself

The quadrennial exercise of assessing a new president’s term by his first 100 days takes place tomorrow and never has the report card been so eagerly awaited as it is for President Obama. While there will be much discussion around his policies and their progress, his appointments, his race and his family, perhaps the issue that will receive little attention is how his leadership style is impacting all these elements of his life and how with greater awareness of his strengths he will be able to accomplish much more of what he wants to do. President Obama brings a strategic intelligence to the office–a style that has not occupied the Oval Office since President Eisenhower. The gift that Obama brings, and the nation desperately needs, is that of the foresight to redevelop systems that no longer work and to see the possibility of what can be created when we leave behind the rules and regulations that no longer serve their purpose. From the auto industry to Wall Street to our health care system, the mainstays of the American economic, indeed our entire way of life, are threatened by our resistance to change and the need to modernize. And most importantly, it is not just the mechanics of the systems that need updating, so too does our way of thinking about the quality of our lives and how we live them. Since some of his first cabinet picks went by the wayside as the public learned that they were unable to follow the rules that do exist, President Obama has demonstrated that he is able to see the bigger picture and is willing to follow his gut when the details do not necessarily support his impressions. The key for his success is two understand two fundamental points about his leadership: - First, he is not a detail person, nor is he much interested in the day-to-day details of implementation, which is helpful for what we need from a President now. The challenge for him is to understand his inclination to pass over “the small stuff” and to know that he needs to be aware and the keep the counsel of the deatiled leadership around him. - Second, he needs to recognize in his desire to stay “above the fray” that too often he has failed to put his own stamp, to make clear his vision and intentions to others and to allow ALL the details to fall to underlings. If President Obama is to succeed, he must hold his key advisers accountable for making progress and on his goals and HE must be willing to go to bat to make sure they happen if they are important to him–even if it means engaging others who might not necessarily hold the same view. One-hundred days is hardly enough time to assess a presidency and yet we do it. So far he has managed to move our country forward on the power of his personality and vision . . . if he is to continue to succeed he will need to put the best of his leadership talents into action and really make something happen!

April 28th, 2009 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

Why Change is Difficult

Change has been a buzzword since President Obama rode it to victory in last fall’s election. And while he has been credited with being the one to bring it to the American political system (which he indeed has) it was really the public that was demanding change in the systems that are so entrenched in our society. Every six or seven decades the American public recognizes that it needs help in re-inventing the systems that govern our lives. With the collapse of the banking, housing and automobile industries we are once again reminded that our history is to wait until catastrophy strikes before making the changes we need to make. “Why is change so difficult?” asks one of my students attempting to understand the challenges before many leaders. The simple answer is because no one has the ability to change anyone else. A leader has two choices: one, is to entice change out of people through the carrot or stick method or two, is to inspire people by demonstrating the ideals, behaviors and goals they wish to achieve. What so many of us want is for someone else to do the changing so that it won’t seem so daunting for us. Which really brings us back to the key idea . . . change happens and leaders are born when an individual stands up and decides that they are going to do something different. When that person changes themselves then they are able to ‘walk their talk’ and show others how. And by doing that leadership becomes as easy as breathing . . .Take a deep breath and give it a try . . . inspire others by giving your gifts to the world because your country and your President need your help!!

April 16th, 2009 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

Why Al Gore Shouldn’t Run

With the imploding Bush Presidency and a democratic primary with little sizzle the chattering classes have been discussing a possible Gore presidential candidacy for months. With his winning of the Nobel Peace Prize Former Vice President and Democratic Presidential nominee Al Gore is once again setting tongues a-wagging as to his entry into the 2008 race. While many inside Democratic circles still harbor a great affection for Gore’s wisdom and statesmanship, including this author, a 2008 Gore Presidential run would be mistake for him and an even bigger mistake for our country.

This son of a Tennessee tobacco farmer and U.S. Senator was groomed to be president from his crib. His life in public service predetermined his rise to the Senate and eventually to an eight-year term as Vice President of the United States. All the while his passion for the environment simmered and came forward at times when the politics allowed him to focus his attention on this critical issue. Yet, when his Presidential election failed through a series of unimaginable synchronicities, he chose not to assume the mantle of political has-been, instead he reverted to his passion—global warming. He was able to focus his sharp mind on his environmental consciousness and without fanfare he tirelessly crossed the globe to alert people to the disasters that we are creating everyday through are ignorance and unwillingness to address our polluting behaviors.

His passion and motivation were supported through the work of filmmaker Davis Guggenheim and the resulting documentary An Inconvenient Truth become a world-wide sensation that ultimately went on to win an Oscar. The oft-described stiff, wooden, and arrogant and boring presidential candidate had transformed himself into an energetic, articulate missionary out to save our planet from destruction. Had he really become a different person or did he finally free himself from someone else’s dream for his life and discover his true calling? Had not, for the first time in his life, he been able to get his head and his heart in sync with one another—an unstoppable combination that has literally put the wind in his sails. In addition to clearly being happy, his message, and his presentation, is one of the hottest tickets in any town he goes to. Where once dozens of campaign workers would have struggled to fill a room, he can speak to sell-out audiences anywhere in the world—where people are coming not to hear political diatribe, but to learn how they can help change our environment’s future. For the first time in his life, he is a passionate messenger rather than a scripted candidate or elected official.

Mahatma Gandhi’s famous quote we must be the change we wish to see in the world, fits perfectly with this Al Gore. He is living the change he wants to create in the world. As much as this type of leader is needed in the Oval Office, I do not wish to see him back in that cage. I prefer to see him fly and spread his message far and wide—a man who has found peace with his passions and is willing to share them with us. His life as a person whose agenda consists of nothing more than the betterment of our world and pursuit of our collective goals reveals the value of service without the shadow of political celebrity. Who knows, perhaps he was also destined to show us that leadership doesn’t have to come only from within the political system and indeed leading from the outside may be the most effective way of all.

October 12th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

Why Obama Has Nothing to Lose

The headlines this week tell one story in the Democratic primary–Hillary Clinton has taken a commanding lead in fundraising and the polls. In other words, unless another one of the primary contenders is able to present themselves as having something different to offer the voters, there is no doubt another Clinton is headed for the country’s top political slot. If Obama has ever needed a reason to change strategies now is the time.

Obama’s campaign message has been one of change and from the perspective of a Washington outsider. Yet, his campaign has adhered closely to the typical inside-the-beltway model–let’s raise as much money as we can, hire the anointed “experts” and have them tell me what I need to say to reach out to “real” Americans. While many would have us believe that the public has no idea of what really goes on in Washington, they are certainly insightful enough to know when someone isn’t walking their talk.

Obama is never going to be able to authentically deliver his message until he becomes comfortable running his campaign from an outsider perspective. Yes, there are certain things that need to be done in any campaign to be successful, essentially delivering the right message to the right people in the last four to five weeks of the campaign, and paid professionals know how to do this well. But this is not a commentary on his tactics and logistics. This is about his strategy and message–they are simply not in sync and it is bringing his campaign down.

And this is the point that is missed by so many political professionals and unelected leaders throughout the country–the key to winning campaigns is not just about delivering the message–it is about the message and the messenger. If a candidate can not get up in front of people and authentically deliver a heart-felt message they will have great difficulty winning a majority of voters over. This is the mark of leadership, being able to be who you are while you are leading.

Love her, hate her–no one can criticize Hillary Clinton as one who doesn’t speak her mind. If Obama is going to truly turn the democratic primary into a race, he needs to grab hold of his message and start living it. The public is hungry for someone who can be authentic and if they are also inspirational it is a golden combination. Obama has all the ingredients, it is up to him to decide if he is really ready to put it all together–and be the leader he is destined to be.

October 6th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

Presidential Lessons from the Playground

It is almost impossible to pick-up a newspaper or magazine these days without finding articles with suggestions for women who are attempting to re-enter the workplace after taking time off to raise children. Some advise women to emphasize volunteer work and other “professional” duties to explain the resume gap—while others propose women take on consultant titles to show that they were never really out of the game. Perhaps instead of trying of hide years of child rearing behind clever resume language women ought to proudly stand-up for their time in the home and the skills they honed by managing their family.

No one who has ever had to talk a three-year out of a temper tantrum in the middle of a shopping center, negotiate between siblings or prepare a nourishing meal, while arranging the week’s carpool and finishing off the school auction’s marketing plan knows there are plenty of lessons to be learned from rearing our children. Lessons that have direct application in a policy maker’s world. In fact, when looking at our country’s current leadership—it is clear that none of them has ever been a fully-engaged parent. They couldn’t have been, because no one who teaches children life’s basic lessons could pursue these policies.

Anyone who has ever been on a playground has witnessed a tussle between children. Someone took her doll or kicked his ball and the angered child takes a whack at the offender. The first thing (most) caregivers would say after calming the children down is that you never solve a problem by hitting someone; it only makes them angrier and sooner or later you both end up hurt. Hmmm. Telling our children that hitting doesn’t solve problems and that they need to use their words is a mantra that fills playgrounds throughout the country, yet the Bush Administration continues to advocate policies that most 4-year-old’s can comprehend won’t work. Since when does beating-up someone (read blowing up their country and killing hundreds of innocent civilians) ever make anyone better off? They certainly aren’t and we certainly aren’t any closed to getting what we want—that is, people who aren’t angry enough at us to want to blow us up.

Yes, most people in the United States and Iraq believe that Iraqis are better off without Sadam Hussein as its leader. But, simply getting rid of the bully doesn’t necessarily make the playground a fun place to be if steps are not taken to make sure that water fountain works, the swings are in good condition and that ground isn’t full of broken glass. Any good parent knows that people thrive not only where they are safe from attack, but in environments where basic needs are met and people are allowed to develop community. Winning is not only about conquering your adversary it is about reaching out to others and supporting their development. The

The Golden Rule, “treat others as you want to be treated,” is the basis for good playground etiquette. If our leaders had thought more about this fact they may not have rushed to war based on the failed idea that “our enemies are jealous of our freedom.” But rather thought that perhaps there are people that are not as they should and that “hitting” is not going to solve the problem. Perhaps too, if more women were fully welcomed back into the workplace after childrearing some of these simply lessons could be taught to a group of people that desperately need to learn these lessons.

September 14th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

When Will Leadership Mean Telling the Truth?

The debate on the Iraq war making its way through Washington this week via General Petraeaus’ testimony before Congress, brings to light the chronic issue of our policy debate today–how dubious facts are often related as truth to buttress political positions. We are well aware how the weapons of mass destruction “data” was used to build a case for going to war in Iraq and despite public numbness toward the deception this type of “factually-based” opinion is rampant in Washington policy-making circles. Mnay such examples of this type of “fact-finding” were evident in the General’s testimony yesterday–down to the differention of how an individual is shot to delineate if it a crime of war or of “ordinary circumstances.”

Let’s be clear–facts are something that are not only observable, they are points that can be agreed upon by all those involved. Instead of basing violence statistics on the entry wound, would it not be more effective to discuss number of poeple shot? Then there is no debate and we can have an honest discussion about what is really happening in Iraq.

If we are to effectively move forward in our appraoch to this ill-conceived war and indeeed in all our policy decisions, they the public must require our political leaeders to stop the spinning and start using real facts. Why not start a discussion of what is going on Iraq by agreeing on what is really happening. How many civilians are being injured? How many are able to access basic public services? How many children are enrolled in school? Until our policy discussions are based in facts we all agree to, we will never be able to move forward.

So to all those in Congress I ask that you begin your debate about the war by agreeing on the facts. In doing so, you will cut down the political rhetoric and begin making progress by staring from a place of agreement.

September 11th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments