This week I had the honor of being published in the December edition of Principal Magazine. This article, titled College Readiness For All: What’s the Alternative? , can be found on the NAESP website under the “Speaking Out” section. I’d be honored if you would give it a read.
Prescription #4: Know the difference between REASONS and EXCUSES. It’s important that we recognize the challenges that exist in education. The key however is to understand that there is a difference between reasons and excuses. Reasons such as the fact that students live in poverty or speak a second language, share why a challenge exists in the first place. Excuses on the other hand are made when defeat is accepted and hope is lost. The best schools in our country take plenty of time identifying reasons for
poor success, but spend even more time finding solutions so that those same reasons
do not turn into excuses.
As we go forward on a mission to be openly optimistic, know this: If you are waiting for
100% of your colleagues to “get onboard” you will be waiting forever. Why? Because
schools, companies, and organizations rarely have every single person operating on the
same page. However the reason that a select few choose to be negative surprisingly has
little to do with the organization itself and everything to do with them as individuals. The
fact is that negative colleagues are not onboard in life, much less on board with the
mission of any one school. While this is frustrating and unjust, what is worse is when
Closet Optimists allow for the minority opinions of negative educators to drown out the
proactive energy of those who want to do right by kids. When schools are guided by the
negative force of a few individuals it is never an indictment of their ability to drive the
agenda. More so, it is an indictment on the reluctance from Closet Optimists to come out
of hiding and collectively assemble. When Closet Optimists allow their outward attitude
to reflect their inward spirit, amazing results tend to follow.