If you have ever visited the happiest place on earth, you would likely agree that the service, the cleanliness and the experience exceed expectations. In fact, the Disney service model has been studied by corporations worldwide.

The more I learn about the Disney philosophy, the more I notice the ‘begin with the end in mind’ approach. Simply put, Disney’s goal is to create happiness. They have written specific service guidelines for both cast members and management. Specific behaviours are listed under each guideline outlining how to achieve the end goal.

An example presented to Disney employees: how do you answer the question, “What time is the 3:00 parade?” It would be tempting to give a snide, sarcastic response. However at Disney, employees are taught how to answer that question informatively and respectfully.

At Disneyland, the guest experiences are of utmost importance. Should not the same be true for us within a school? Shouldn’t we too have pride in our environment and teach our students to do the same? Our attention to detail and our day to day behaviour should demonstrate that we value our environment and each person within: students, colleagues, parents and guests. Despite temptation, despite fatigue and frustration, despite seemingly silly questions, sarcasm and condescension have no place either at Disneyland or in a school.

Turns out, we can all learn a few things from dear old Walt. After all, wouldn’t you like to work at the happiest place on earth?

Perhaps the best part of Friday night was the realization that the alarm clock need not go on. Low and behold Saturday morning I awoke at regular time and could not sleep. And yet, I reveled in the realization that I did not have to get up and that a week of non-alarm clock mornings lay ahead.

In the field of education, we often hear snide remarks about the amount of vacation time we have. Yet this week I witnessed the increasing restlessness of the students and the fatigue of the staff after the marathon of report cards. The emotional, physical and mental toll was evident.

Those of us who work in that building called school understand the necessity of this break and how deserved it is for those who work within. Others may scoff at us. I say, enjoy…

Continue reading “Teachers: more than meets the eye”

After hearing Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish speak at convention, I shook his hand and bought his book, I Shall Not Hate. I read it this week and though I understand the individual words on the page, I struggle to understand the world he portrays.

… the oldest of nine children growing up in a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip… all living in one room 3 metres by 3 metres, no running water, no electricity, no toilets… his mother cutting a banana to share between her nine children… the family left homeless after their home was bulldozed to widen the road for tanks… working through the night and attending school during the day… living amongst hatred, discrimination and war… the unpredictable and often humiliating ordeal of crossing the border between Palestine and Israel which he did many years, twice a week…losing three daughters and a niece to the shelling of his home…

Through the world of words I enter a foreign land and into the life of another. I am reminded how fortunate I am to live where and when I do. The details of his reality are incomprehensible to those of us living in a world of freedom and security.

And yet, despite his circumstances, this man is an advocate, a doctor, a father, a humanitarian, one might even say an optimist. As the world searches for peace and reconciliation, let us look to Dr. Abuelaish for inspiration.

Take comfort today knowing you are safe and educated, that you have food to eat and a place to call home. Share stories with your students to open their eyes to the world beyond their own. And the next time you sing O Canada, relish the reality of these words: the true north strong and free. How very blessed we are.

 

 

Despite the freebies and inevitable purchases, there is one thing much more valuable that I take away from convention each year: a renewed sense of purpose. Dr. Yong Zhao spoke of a learning environment where we strive to enhance the inherent value in each student. Taylor Mali reminded us that we are in the greatest job in the world. Izzeldin Abuelaish emphasized how lucky we are to work day in and day out with our most precious resource: our children.

Education is often deemed the one thing that can change the world. Too bad more of our politicians don’t agree. Yet regardless of what the politicians believe or what the statistics in the Fraser Report denounce, I feel privileged to be a part of this profession.

As thousands of teachers come together for our annual convention, there is a collective understanding in the room: people who get it, who live it, who breathe it. People who know that what we do makes a difference in the lives of children. People who know that our roles involve much more than curriculum, report cards and test scores.

Yes, we could study, analyze and compare the data. Or, we could exchange anecdotes about our interactions with individuals each and every day. Which would tell us more about the difference we make in the lives of children? After all, our students are more than simply a number on a page.

Where does one find solace in this world? On Friday I found it in Kindergarten. There was the little ragamuffin constantly pulling up her falling pants. The tooth that fell out in the middle of the lesson. The cheering and excitement that followed for that lost tooth. There was the genuine concern for the classmate who had surgery just days before. There was the elation of creating the letter ‘j’ with play dough. There was laughter, warmth and enthusiasm for life.

Despite the challenges and uncertainty we sometimes face, my time in Kindergarten reminded me of the tenderness, transparency and grace of children. I was surrounded by the beauty of life itself.

If you are needing a little solace, seek out a child: the world just may seem a little brighter.

 

There seemed to be a lot of sadness the last few weeks: illness, sudden death, the disclosure of abuse. At these times, it can be difficult to know just what to say to provide comfort to those in the midst of turmoil. And though the right words are sometimes elusive, as Dumbledore once said to Harry, “Words are, in my not so humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic.”

Though words can’t change reality or circumstance, they have incredible power, magic if you will. Words can provide hope in moments of darkness. Words can transform our mood. They can console and comfort. They can uplift and inspire. Words can educate, encourage and defend. Words change worlds.

Imagine elementary school without art, drama or music. Appealing? For most of us, no. For our students? Most definitely not. Now go a stretch further… imagine our world devoid of art.

Art, in its many forms, surrounds us: on the walls of our home, the billboards on the street corner, the music we listen to, our trips to the theatre, the television drama we return to each week, the picture book we will read tomorrow to our students, our clothing even.

Just recently, I was listening to Les Miserables. As I listened to the complexity of the notes and the profundity of the words, I was uplifted. And it got me thinking: without the arts, my life would be dull and somewhat empty. And though I love music and going to art galleries to wander through the masters, I realize not everyone shares this love.

Some consider these subjects ‘extras’. Yet, through the medium of the arts, we experience the world much differently. The arts add dimension, creativity and depth to our schooling and ultimately, our lives. Sir Ken Robinson purports that all subjects should hold equal value: that science and math for example, are not more important than music or art. Gerald Gordon has said “I believe that creativity will be the currency of the 21st century.” As we think about the direction our society is headed, the arts is an important element. Consider how art, drama and music play such a large role in our increasingly multi-media society.

Bring out the paint… strum that guitar… dance your heart out! Discover the joy within the arts.

Recently I came across an article with this assignment: “Select a small shelf of books that represent you – the books that have changed your life, that have made you who you are today, your favorite favorites.” The idea intrigued me. What would be on my shelf if I was allowed 10 books – books that influenced my thinking, my being, my writing, my teaching?

After much thought, here’s my list (though I expect it might change in time):

• The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
• The Giver by Lois Lowry
• A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
• A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
• The Nero Wolfe series by Rex Stout
• Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
• Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
• Radical Reflections by Mem Fox
• The Big Picture by Dennis Littky
• The Element by Sir Ken Robinson

I often think of the author when I am reading, but rarely do I think of the man who made the book form possible: Johannes Gutenberg. When he invented the printing press in approximately 1440, for the first time the mass production of books was possible. I take for granted the physical pages in my hands. I take for granted the distribution of words and ideas. Today though, I pay homage to Gutenberg for influencing how we create and distribute our words. I pay homage to a little thing we call a book.

Consider this, what’s on your shelf?

Visit www.idealbookshelf.com to see the origin of this challenge.