As the new
school year gets rolling, I’ve been thinking a lot about education in America. Over the years, I’ve been inside a wide
variety of schools as an author. Rural, suburban,
public, private, Muslim, Quaker, Catholic, rich, poor, free and
incarcerated—you name it, I’ve probably seen it.
The
diversity of American education can be head-spinning. But there are a few
things that seem to hold true no matter where I am:
First – just
like a book…you can’t judge a school by its cover. I’ve been in some truly impressive schools
that were so decrepit on the outside, I half-expected the kids to be wearing
hard hats and hazmat suits inside. At
the other end of the spectrum, I’ve seen schools with all the latest technology
and designer furniture and glass atriums…and not much else going for them.
Second – I know
this will sound obvious, but principals really do matter more than anything
else in a school. Good principals = good
schools. Almost always.
Over the
years, I’ve developed my own totally random list of what makes an excellent
principal. It does not include things like: “achieves the
highest test scores.” It does include things like: knows the name of every
child, smiles at kids and staff (and authors), is willing to sweep up cafeteria
floors or wipe down yucky tables when necessary, knows exactly what is
happening in the school on any given day, is excited about learning and conveys
that excitement, participates in nearly all school events, is someone who motivates
people to be better people, is a leader that everyone (from parents to
custodians) respects and appreciates…
Schools that
are lucky enough to have these excellent principals tend to hold onto them very
tightly. Like rare gems. They don’t let
them leave or move or retire easily. I know of one principal who still goes on his
school’s eighth grade Washington, D.C. trip as a chaperone every year—although
he “retired” several years ago.
That’s the
kind of dedication I’m talking about.
Third—I have
a theory (completely untested) that teaching staffs who cook together, stick
together.
When I’m in
a school where the teachers have pulled together a lunch potluck on a Friday—or
for any special occasion, I’ve noticed that it usually isn’t a one-time
event. They cook for each other
often. They have favorite recipes and
dishes that they share. They joke around with each other. They seem to
genuinely like hanging out with one another as colleagues and friends.
Here is my
theory: Potlucks = teamwork = school success.
Add in a
dash of excellent leadership (an excellent principal) and you have a successful
school.
And don’t
worry too much if you don’t have a glass atrium.
