Whatever system gives you pause for concern, a primary step is to understand how it works and why it is the way it is. It may then be more possible to deal with it in a way to optimize the chances for making it work on your behalf rather than being constantly frustrated because it
No one ever said it would be easy and trying to change mind sets and then help people change their behavior is a huge challenge. Someone once said that there are too many people who mistake the edge of the rut for the horizon. Entrenchment is a familiar condition in many institutions and organizations, partly
Joe Nathan writes a regular column and I respond from time to time. I’ve known Joe for almost 20 years. He started the first charter school in the United States in Minnesota in 1992 and is now the Director of the Center for School Change at Macalaster College. He and I are often on the
Have you noticed how often you get a notice that either a piece of software or an application needs to be “updated” and “downloaded” to be sure that you have the latest and greatest whatever? It seems to me that it’s almost a daily function like brushing your teeth or in some cases, taking a
Originally written 4 Feb 2008 Adults with many years of experience cannot expect children to be able to relate easily or quickly to an adult perspective. Neither should they always try to persuade or convince the young to understand or accept their particular point of view. However, that is what we do when we try
For the past seven years, we have lived on the Rio Chama. It has its origins in south-central Colorado, just above New Mexico in the San Juan Mountains. It flows south where it is impounded by three dams, creating three lakes, Heron, El Vado and Abiquiu. The entire length of the river is 130 miles,
