Andrew, one thing I try to do with my students is that they not only have
a lot of brain power but a lot of social power as well. The system has
been very effective in shutting people's brains. Since we get in contact
with our first teacher in school, until we cash our last paycheck just
before retirement, we are exposed to organizations that in many ways
"teach" us to follow others, to be passive, etc. Brain power is in every
one's head! But we must believe that we have it and that we can use it!
I love Deming's notions that we all come to life with the desire to work,
to take responsibility, to learn, etc. It is the systems that destroy
this through the "forces of destruction." We have a lot of pygmalion (sp)
people around. People who through time have been told that they are not
and cannot be responsible, that they cannot think on their own, that they
do not know "the right terms, or definitions, or formulas," etc., and they
have come to believe that all that is true!
I think that some of the exceptions to these influences are typified by
the members of this group, and other similar thinkers and learners groups.
That is probably why it is difficult to turn this list off. So my
question is how can we get people to understand this, to be willing to use
their own brain power, etc.?
I know that there are more people willing to try new ideas and ways! I
see it in my students every semester. Many of the lazy, cheatters, et.,
have become to appreciate the work they do in my classes! I have return
to them the responsibility for part of the learning process, and they like
it! Of course, there are still some that prefer to be told, led be their
hands, etc.
Ivan
--"Dr. Ivan Blanco" <BLANCO@BU4090.BARRY.EDU>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>