What are the ways in?
In 2007, McKinsey published a report titled How The World’s Best Performing School Systems Come Out on Top. In the report, McKinsey looks at the top performing schools in the world, and concludes that three things differentiate the best:
1. Teacher quality
2. Teacher development
3. Ensuring that the system can deliver the best possible instruction to every child
So, what is the #1 Top Action We Can Take?
Knowing these McKinsey results, what is the strongest lever? What is the biggest bang for the buck? There may be evidence that teacher development can change schools with the most impact for the most ease. For example, Geelong Grammar School in Australia has focused on Positive Education, including as part of that the Positive Education Training Conference for teachers.
What if schools running professional development workshops – for teachers and administrators and a learning series for students and parents – could make those strides to grow the beauty of schools and prevent possible pain to individuals? What if these seminars were based on the research findings of positive psychology – and to include the whole system?
What if the alien form Mars could report this:
Children are enjoying some type of information. They are smiling. The adults are smiling. There is a bidirectional construction of knowledge. Everyone is learning. Everyone is eager to return each day.
Author’s Note: If you’re reading this and thinking, “Yes! That’s what we need,” consider contacting me and my colleagues at Flourishing Schools to come and deliver workshops for your local school (or learning organization of any kind). You never know how just one phone call on your part could positively influence an entire system or community . . .
Portions of this originally published by Louis Alloro on Positive Psychology News Daily.
