A friend recently recommended “The Fifth Discipline” to me, saying that it has incredible implications on education. While I haven’t read it yet, think the following quote, taken from the inside cover, has convinced me: “Our prevailing system of management has destroyed our people. People are born with intrinsic motivation, self-respect, dignity, curiosity to learn, joy in learning. The forces of destruction begin with toddlers- a prize for the best Halloween costume, grades in school, gold stars- and go on up through the university . On the job, people, teams, and divisions are ranked, reward for the top, punishment for the bottom. Management by Objectives, quotas, incentive pay, business plans, put together separately, division by division, cause further loss, unknown and unknowable.” —Dr. W. Edwards Deming

Interesting, isn’t it, to think how many school structures take their cues from the business world and we’ve never stopped to wonder about going about it the other way. Some businesses are and they are succeeding. How much longer until schools make the leap? Thanks,
-G

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