Inconsistencies

Years ago I read about a study that told how often you must communicate to a faculty in a public school to make sure they make a change or complete specific projects.

The study said teachers can be told many different times in many different ways, including in a staff meeting, in a staff memo, in e-mail reminders, in a school district newsletter, on the school intercom, or in a face-to-face conversation.

More than likely, it takes an extensive combination that includes all of the above.

But the big question is, how many times must the message be communicated before change begins to be implemented?

According to the study, at least 22.

I would say wow, but because of my own experiences as a high school principal, I really wasn't surprised.

But you can say wow if you want.

Apparently, even if we are talking about people with a college degree or two, the word must get out at least 22 times before a change can begin.

I'm very sympathetic to teachers, and I don't want to be critical. I lived in their world for almost three decades and the job is not an easy one.

But my own experience verified the fact that a faculty must be told something many, many times before an action is implemented across the board.

Now, before we rush to judgment about teachers, let me say that it probably takes an equally thorough effort to implement a change in almost any workplace or in almost any profession.

It's just that the study I encountered examined teachers and schools.

Incidentally, I found it ironic that sometimes the teachers who needed more than 20 reminders were sometimes the ones who were the hardest on students if they failed to do something right the first time or missed a homework assignment once.

That's not really good news. It rarely happens, but it does happen.

In addition, some teachers are very strict with students for being late to class or for pulling out their smart phone and texting during class.

We would all agree that students should be held accountable in those areas and should be taught what is expected in the real world of work.

Punctuality is important. And knowing that there are times in which it is rude to use a phone is also important.

But as a principal I always noticed that some teachers were often late, and some would text during a meeting.

You probably think I'm trying to be hard on teachers, but I promise you I'm not.

I'm merely pointing out that there will always be inconsistencies in what we do, whether we are talking about teenagers, adults, amateurs, or professionals.

No matter what the age, and no matter what the level of proficiency, there must be definite expectations in place. But at the same time, those expectations must be balanced by a certain level of understanding and flexibility.

Having said that, we must also remember that the vast majority of teachers are dedicated professionals who care about students.

They have noble intentions, and they have good hearts.

No one should think otherwise.

But even people with good hearts sometimes fail to live out a flawless existence on any given day.

And if they fail--if they don't have an uninterrupted flow of goodness and virtue--it just means that they are human.

And that means that they are a lot like you. And a lot like me.

We all have room for improvement, but today the focus was on schools and on teachers.

On another day, the bright light might be shining on you.

I just hope it isn't a day in which you're running late.

-- David Wilson, EdD, of Springdale, is a writer and teacher at heart. His book, Learning Every Day, includes several of his columns and is now available on Amazon, iTunes, and Barnes and Noble. You may e-mail him at [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.