Comments on: A New Year’s Eve Parable

By: Dar Hosta

Dar Hosta — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:29:23 +0000

Wait a minute!! So, what did Wendy say then?!? Was that it? Have a nice day, happy idling? We were in a local restaurant last week on a cold, rainy night. Out in the parking lot was a big, tricked-out Escalade with the parking lights on and the engine running. The family had left it going while they sat inside and ate so that they didn’t have to come out to a cold car. Turned out that I knew these people and I, too, sheepishly said nothing. I was hoping that Wendy would have had some nice comebacks for that complacent law enforcement (ha!) guy that would give me the chutzpah to speak out next time! Oy.

By: Newsom-Lang

Newsom-Lang — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 08:36:52 +0000

“Grr” says it all, Will. Selective enforcement of laws is nothing new. Social comment on it is! Be the change — perfect!

By: Louuise Maine

Louuise Maine — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 02:15:12 +0000

Be the change is right. At a local state store buying wine for family dinner, the gentleman in front denounces global warming as a hoax. I did not get a word in edge-wise, but regretted not blurting out my beliefs. When it was my turn, I declined the use of many bags and instead presented my eco-bags bottle bag (6 divided sections - very cool). When the clerk thought it was a great idea, I told her that I agreed and that I cared about the environment. I discussed much of my viewpoints. I am definitely the minority here. I get stares using my many cloth bags for the last 20 years (I am sure I am talked about in the faculty room for my change agent attitude on education). Thank you for your words of wisdom on many fronts. A great year to you.

By: Betty

Betty — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 17:54:32 +0000

It is important to be the change. Sometimes I overreact and then have to remind myself to be calm. I do get better results that way.

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 23:10:02 +0000

Will,

Happy New Year to you and yours! When you say “…every moment, as much as I can, be the change” is exactly the point. We need to be change agents in education and in life. I don’t think you should qualify the comment with “as much as I can,” as I am sure you do as much as you can. We all need to be change agents, all the time. Reading your blog and your book as well as implementing your ideas has made a great impact on me. In turn, I pass on what I have learned to others to get us where we all want to be. I try to live my life according to the Japanese phrase “kaizen” which can be loosely translated in English to continuous improvement.

Thanks. Keep making a difference.

Have a fantastic 2008!

Dan

By: Barry

Barry — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 21:14:05 +0000

Will,

Thought provoking post. The part I liked best was the question about the enforcement of laws. Cops, like teachers, are allowed discretion in most situations. One would argue it makes them more effective to deal with in dividual situations. The problem arises when laziness or disinterested is the reason they choose not to act and not a mitigating circumstance.

Further question for you. What if your change and another’s change that you are “being” butt heads like a flying buttress?

Best wishes for 2008.

Barry

By: Megan

Megan — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 20:51:38 +0000

Look how quickly this blogging thing became the change. Now, to get the most current info on information technology and education and leadership, etc., I read the blogs….no more journals until I’m writing a formal paper/book/presentation for the university where I NEED “scholarly” references (hopefully, that will change soon, too). So, let’s be the change….keep at it….keep doing what we’re doing and eventually, they’ll have to jump on board to keep up. But then again, we’ll be on to bigger and better things, right???? Happy New Year - off to party!

By: mrsdurff

mrsdurff — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 19:46:26 +0000

There is a Christian Rock song with the wordsw “Are you who you want to be?” (probably have it wrong). Learners in my room focus on that…I hope they focus on it outside of the room too - that is the real test!

By: Maureen Irwin

Maureen Irwin — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 19:34:00 +0000

We’re starting the hear “Be the change” on a lot of fronts. I heard an interesting twist at a workshop on “Educating for Sustainability” a few weeks ago: “EVERYTHING you do makes a difference. Is it the difference you WANT to make?” I wonder if that officer of the law (well, some of them maybe) had any thoughts after-the-fact. I hope Tucker gave him a very quizzical look; I also hope Tucker does not give up on law enforcement officials. I remember my own teenage son’s response to his first face-to-face with a cop: his child-like admiration was knocked right on its ear and he verbalized his doubt that he would be such a good citizen again soon.

By: mrsdurff

mrsdurff — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 19:27:41 +0000

We must be the change we wish to see or there will be no change! A good motto to live by. Now if I just could. Is there colombian decaf there?

By: Britne Rockwell

Britne Rockwell — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:41:45 +0000

Good inspiration for a new year. Thanks!
I’d like to think I’d have the guts to walk up to someone and tell them they were wrong (hey! you! turn off that car, and put it in one parking spot while you’re at it!), but I also think that police officer should have taken more responsibility. Should it be all of our jobs to do the officer’s? Would he do ours? How far could we take “be the change”?
I wouldn’t have thought it out of line to ask what other laws they choose not to enforce, though…
You’ve really got me thinking. Thank you!

By: Ric Murry

Ric Murry — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:40:50 +0000

Where’s Kathy Bates when you need her…”TOWANDA! I’m older and more insured!” [Fried Green Tomatoes reference]

I’ve been reading several people lately, reflecting, genuflecting, and peering into the future. “Be The Change” is becoming a common theme. I like it, but I wonder how strong we will stay if being the change truly costs us something…I think I’ll make that my New Year’s post. It’s easy to say we will “do what it takes” before we understand what it’s going to take to get the job done.

It is also easy to speak of change when it costs us nothing. This is one reason I respect you, Will. You “gave up” the security of the classroom to seek to influence change in our national education practice. That is a cost many will not consider. That is why, I think, so many others commented in your earlier post about being the change “from within” the system. It’s safer there. But positive systemic change is not going to happen from within. Change seldom happens from within. External forces were required to create change in nearly every major historical, freakonomic, and political shift.

Cynicism aside, this does not mean that we give up if we choose to stay on the inside. External coups usually need an “inside man” to be successful. :0)

Enough for now. Here’s hoping your new year coffee is always fresh, your Prius rides smoothly, your family is blessed, and you life is enriched.

By: Cheryl Lykowski

Cheryl Lykowski — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:11:33 +0000

Great post! We all need to take heed - be the change! That should be the motto for 2008 - Be the change we want to see! It can be applied in so many ways and on so may levels. Thanks for the inspiration. Happy 2008!