A Broken Arm

The reason I have not written since May 25th is because I tripped over a box in my home on May 26th and broke my upper right arm in four places. It was a serious break that required surgery and has resulted in limited use not only of my upper arm but also my lower arm and hand as well. Although this has been a challenge that I would have prefered to forego, I have learned some valuable lessons.

Lesson #1: Each member of our body has an important function to perform. When one member is not functioning properly the whole body feels the loss.

Lesson #2: When one body part isn't functioning as it should the rest of the body has to compensate. For instance, I'm having to use my left hand for things which I would normally use my right hand such as eat, write and type. Even though my left hand isn't as efficient, it has become stronger.

Lesson #3: There has been a need to rely on other people to help do those things I absolutely can't do myself like using my right hand to file my nails on my left hand. Yet, I have found creative ways to do some things that I felt I couldn't do.

Lesson #4: Whining, complaining, feeling sorry for myself don't improve the situation.

These four lessons can be applied to an orgnization body. I'll explore that more in another blog post.

The Hearer Also Has Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the hearer of the message:

1. Always start with where you agree with a speaker.
2. Listen to the message and the heart of the speaker rather than focusing only on the words.
3. Don't get hung up on a word or a phrase that a speaker uses and take them out of context in order to take offense.
4. Check things out with the person directly as to what he or she meant rather than making assumptions.
5. Begin by erring on the side of trusting that the person has a good heart. In Alma 61: 9 in the Book of Mormon Pahoran responds to the chastisement of Captain Moroni by saying, "And now, in your epistle you have censured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart."
6. Don't be easily offended and remember what Eleanor Roosevelt said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
7. Stay focused on one's own message and cause and give no heed unto those who would distract you or even attack you.

Those who would be remarkable leaders will be those who take responsibility for what they say AND for the way they listen to what is said by others.

Words Can Come Back And Bite

Comments made by the three major 2008 Presidential candidates and their spouses and supporters over the last few months are a reminder that we need to mean what we say and say what we mean. If we don't it is too easy for others, especially our opponents on issues, to misconstrue what was said as the following examples show.

#1
Michelle Obama--February 18, 2008: "People in this country are ready for change and hungry for a different kind of politics and...for the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback." Note: Obama received rousing applause after making the comment.

February 20, 2008: Clarifying what she said, "What I was clearly talking about was that I'm proud in how Americans are engaging in the political process." When asked if she had always been proud of her country, she replied, "absolutely" and said she and her husband would not be where they are now if not for the opportunities of America.

Jen Psaki, Obama campaign spokeswoman: "...Michelle is proud of her country, which is why she and Barack talk constantly about how their story wouldn't be possible in any other nation on Earth. What she meant is that she's really proud at this moment because for the first time in a long time, thousands of American who've never participated in politics before are coming out in record numbers to build a grassroots movement for change."

Cindy McCain, wife of Pres. candidate John McCain, capitalized on Obama's remark by saying, "I have, and always will be, proud of my country.

Bill Kristol, Weekly Standard Editor: "I think the Democrats have to be careful..they're running against the status quo...You have to be careful not to let that slide into a kind of indictment of America. Because I don't think the American people think on the whole that the last 25 years of American history is a narrative of despair and nothing to be proud of."

#2
Sen.Barack Obama--May 22, 2008: After reiterating his respect for McCains' service in a speech on the Senate floor, Sen. Obama said, "He [John McCain] is one of those heroes which I speak, but I can't understand why he would line up behind the president in his opposition to this GI bill, I can't believe why he believes it is too generous to our veterans. I could not disagree with him and the president more on this issue. There are many issues that lend themselves to partisan posturing, but giving our veterans the chance to go to college should not be one of them."

Sen. John McCain's response: "Perhaps if Obama would take the time and trouble to understand this issue, he would learn to debate an honest disagreement respectfully, but, as he always does, he prefers impugning the motives of his opponent, and exploiting a thoughtful difference of opinion to advance his own ambitions." He also said, "And I will not accept from Senator Obama, who did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform, any lectures on my regard for those who did." Note: McCain did not return to Washington, D. C. for the vote preferring to stay in California to campaign and raise money.

#3
Sen. John McCain at a rally in Stockdale, CA on May 22, 2008: "I have the knowledge and the experience and the judgment to lead this nation. My opponent does not." He then sarcastically praised Obama saying, "I admire and respect Sen. Obama. For a young man with very little experience, he's done very well. I appreciate his very great lack of experience and knowledge of the issue. He's been very successful." Note: A crowd of about 400 laughed.

#4
Sen. Hillary Clinton in an interview with the editorial board of the Argus Leader newspaper in Sioux Fall, S. D. on May 22, 2008: Explaining why she was staying in the Democratic race, Sen. Clinton said, "My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California."

Bill Burton, chief spokesman for Obama campaign: "Senator Clinton's statement before the Argus Leader editorial board was unfortunate and has no place in this campaign."

Sen. Hillary Clinton's clarification of remark: "I regret that if my referencing that moment of trauma for our entire nation, and particularly for the Kennedy family, was in any way offensive. I certainly had no intention of that whatsoever."

Clinton aide: The New York Senator Clinton was merely giving "historical examples of the nominating process going well into the summer," and that reading anything further into her statement was "inaccurate and outrageous."

Mo Elleithee, Clinton campaign spokesperson: "She was simply referencing her husband in 1992 and Bobby Kennedy in 1968 as historic examples of the nominating process going well into the summer. Any reading into beyond that would be inaccurate."



In order for words to carry a message that will put one in a positive light it is crucial that words not carry a sarcastic tone that belittles others, even opponents. Even though others may laugh at the cleverness of the words it will always be somewhat of a nervous laugh because all people seem to instinctively know that using humor to belittle others lessens the credibility of the message bearer.


Even when extreme care is taken for words to convey the intended message it can still be misinterpreted. The three presidential candidates are politicians and two are lawyers so they are experts on word choice and inflection. Yet, even they commit "fau pauxs" and have make apologies and/or have gone back to clarify misunderstandings about what they said. Yet, in spite of the risks and the fact that words can come back and bite, they keep on speaking because they understand the importance of the message and the cause. Putting oneself on the line like this day after day takes a whole lot more courage than waiting until someone else makes a fau paux and then using that as an opportunity to critique the other person's words and/or to use the same words in a different way to make one's self look good.

Even though a speaker bears much responsibility for the words he or she says to convey the intended message the receiver of the message also bears a great responsibility which will be the topic of tomorrow's blog post.

One Would Think I Would Have Known Better!

As I have started to pay more attention and listen to the words I have been saying to myself and others I have been appalled. Over and over again in a whining and complaining manner I've been saying such things as, "Why won't people listen to what I have to share?" and "Why don't people want all that I know?" I have had the attitude that I know a lot about how to improve the education of Hispanic learners--After all, it has been my goal over the last 8 years or so to become an expert on this issue, and I have worked towards that goal paying a heavy price not only financially but with my time, energy, and emotions as well.

It wasn't until Dr. Scott Ferrin who is my professor, the chair of my doctoral committee, and most of all, my friend gently reminded me to be humble that I really heard what I had been saying.

One would think I would have known better! Many of my favorite books throughout my lifetime have been:

• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Norman Vincent Peale
• The 8th Habit by Stephen Covey
• How to Be A Woman of Influence by Pat Williams
• Influencer by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler
• Plus many others!

The authors of these books would never recommend I complain and whine about people not listening to me. Although rereading those books might be helpful just reading the principles won't change a thing unless I apply them. Isn't that true of everything?!? It's the difference between being just knowledgeable and being wise.

Ask and ask and ask and ask again

The difference between someone who gets what she wants and one who doesn't is the willingness to keep on asking until one gets that desired "YES" answer. All young children seem to instinctively know this. What child doesn't badger parents until they relent? We seem forget to forget as we become older how powerful this tactic is--or we consider it a childish antic that we must give up.

There is a story in the Bible--Luke 18: 1-7--where a widow went continually to an unjust judge asking him to avenge her of her adversary. He eventually gave into her saying, "Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me."

Sometimes to get to that yes we want we need to take a different route. Nephi and his brothers in the Book of Mormon had to try a variety of methods before they were finally able to obtain the brass plates from Laban that they had been sent to do.

Nephi's brothers, Laman and Lemuel, were ready to give up when the first try didn't work. Then when the second try didn't work they were even more adamant about giving up the errand. Nephi stayed focused on the goal and wasn't about to accept defeat no matter how many "No's" he had to overcome.

One reason we may choose not to be persistent is because we don't want to weary someone with our request. As children we could have cared less if the other person became weary or not. We knew what we wanted. Needless to say, it probably wouldn't be to our advantage to be childish when persistently seeking a yes to a request, but if we can recapture that childlike trait and engage it in a mature way, many more doors will open for us to achieve our goals and desires, especially when they are for a higher cause than ourselves--such as wanting to better serve our diverse learners.

Hypocrisy Raises Its Ugly Head

The Republican Party touts "the sanctity of marriage" as one of its top issues. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this. It only becomes an issue when the party would have us believe that only Republicans have this value.

Whenever a focus changes from the positive aspects of one's own stance and starts pointing fingers one runs the strong risk of being a hypocrite. The old adage is true that when we are pointing an accusing finger three are pointing back at us.

The political arena is a prime example. Even though the sanctity of marriage is part of the Republican platform there are many skeletons coming to light within the Republican ranks related to adultery, illegitimate children, homosexual solicitations, and involvement with prostitutes. This is not to say that Democrats don't have their share of skeletons, too. They do, but it is the hypocrisy of some Republicans--advocating one thing and doing another-- that is disconcerting.

Then there is President Bush who recently accused some (there seems to be a consensus that he was referring to Sen. Obama although he didn't refer to him by name) while making a speech in Israel of being an appeaser. Making this accusation in another country is troubling in itself, but it is even more troubling when some within Pres. Bush's own Cabinet and army of advisors have made similar comments that would define them to be appeasers, too. Now we have the fiasco over Geraldine Ferraro accusing Sen. Obama of being sexist while in the same breath she is making racist comments.

All of this is a reminder that when we want to win over others to our point of view--whether ii is a political matter or an educational matter-- it is critical that one stick with the facts and the issues. Even though it could be helpful to compare one's view with an opposing view, the point one is trying to make will be much more powerful if the main focus is on the positive aspects of one's own argument rather than on criticizing the other side.

Same "Ole, Same 'Ole

On May 8, 2008 there was an article in the Desert News announcing that Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. was forming a committee to look at how to improve Utah's work force to compete better in a global economy. It was even mentioned in the article that Governor Huntsman recognized that everything that needs to be done starts in the classroom. Although the Governor has identified a worthy goal and has recognized the most important path to achieve it, I was extremely disappointed when I saw the list of the seventeen people he chose to be on his "Globally Competitive Workforce Steering Committee"--same 'ole names and same 'ole faces. Plus, not one minority was chosen.

It is disconcerting and troubling how obsessed our nation has become with the term experience. Our 2008 Presidential Campaign has focused on it. Senator Hillary Clinton's mantra has been that she will be ready on Day One because of her experience. She adds that the nation can't afford to break in a newcomer. Senator John McCain has emphasized that Sen. Barack Obama's simplistic views demonstrate he doesn't have the needed experience or the judgment to make wise decisions. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has stated that the presidency isn't an internship.

Sen. Obama and Obama supporters are quick to point out that all this "experience" that others supposedly have has led us into the mess we are in and to the continual decline of country and how we are perceived in the world.

This obsession with and emphasis on experience is also part of the education world--The main determinant for how much a teacher is paid is based on his/her years of teaching. Although teaching experience appears to have an influence on student achievement most studies have discovered that the benefits of experience level off after the first five or so years of teaching. There is not a consistent linear relationship between years of teaching experience and student achievement after the initial three years of teaching. In other words, teachers with 20 or more years of teaching are not necessarily more effective than teachers with 7-10 years of teaching. In fact, there is a joke that is more real than funny and that is that some teachers have taught their first year of teaching 25 times.

If we are serious about improving our nation and/or schools, it is critical that we keep the following thoughts in mind:

• Experience by itself isn't always the best answer. Even our founding fathers (and mothers!) had never founded a nation before.
• We need the right definition for experience. Obama told supporters at a Colorado fundraiser that lack of experience in Washington is not necessarily a bad thing--"When you say I don't have enough experience, what you really mean is that I haven't been in Washington long enough. I've been in Washington long enough to know Washington needs to change." Obama's wife, Michelle, noted in a speech that even though her husband doesn't have the check-marked experiences he has the experience that makes a difference noting his work as a community organizer, civil rights lawyer, law professor and state lawmaker.
• Advocating for change is not an indictment against the country or a system such as public schools. Nor is it denying the fact that the United States is the greatest nation in the history of mankind. America and our public school system do have flaws. Living in a fantasy land pretending that all is well will keep us from making the needed changes to move forward.
• All systems need a certain amount of turnover to bring new blood--people from the outside--who can look at the system with new eyes. This is the only way a system avoids becoming stagnant.
• Although experience can be beneficial it also needs a moral compass as Michelle Obama suggests and there needs to be a focus not only on how to achieve positive results but a way to measure if they have been achieved.

In order to improve our nation, our community, and our schools we will need, whether experienced or not, individuals, members of committees, and leaders who are not only "lifelong learners" who are able to be "innovative and creative" but who are also passionate and committed.

Note: The purpose of this posting isn't to endorse Barack Obama.