Comments on: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People http://adrianbruce.com/teacher-toolbox/the-seven-habits-of-highly-effective-people/ What's new @ www.adrianbruce.com Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:33:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Magi Shepley http://adrianbruce.com/teacher-toolbox/the-seven-habits-of-highly-effective-people/comment-page-1/#comment-63 Magi Shepley Fri, 26 Oct 2007 00:05:00 +0000 http://adrianbruce.com/teacher-toolbox/?p=144#comment-63 Hm. An interesting topic, and one that probably... resonates.<br/>I'm an active volunteer, and have been for more than half of my life. I grew up believing that volunteering was as important as working, because my mother did it. She always took me with her to meetings at the Red Cross, and when I was old enough, I started volunteering as well. Volunteering is enough of an important part of my life that I have always involved my students & my school in my service. <br/>Just like the schools where I have taught, I've worked with some really bad "paid staff" (this is how the Red Cross tends to distinguish those who volunteer versus those who get paid...but even that is a bit fuzzy) Unlike teaching, I think that I've had fewer bad paid staff than administrators. For head principals, I've only had 2 that were worth mentioning, and only 4 assistant principals/direct supervisors. Some of them were just evil, awful people, such as those I worked for at my last school. It takes real chutzpah to require somebody leave your building (especially when they have not done anything remotely close to harming children or breaking the law) and refuse to allow them to take their belongings... and then claim that they don't know where the items are.<br/>I am very fortunate now that, for the most part, my administrators at my current school are sane.<br/>Within my volunteer work, in 20 years, I have 4 people that really made a difference, and encouraged me in new areas. I am forever grateful to the gentleman that allowed the under 18 year old me to join his disaster teams, take the classes, and serve on responses... <br/>I think, that, on many levels, you're correct. But, as with all areas, there are issues and I don't know if treating people like volunteers is the best solution. Hm. An interesting topic, and one that probably… resonates.
I’m an active volunteer, and have been for more than half of my life. I grew up believing that volunteering was as important as working, because my mother did it. She always took me with her to meetings at the Red Cross, and when I was old enough, I started volunteering as well. Volunteering is enough of an important part of my life that I have always involved my students & my school in my service.
Just like the schools where I have taught, I’ve worked with some really bad “paid staff” (this is how the Red Cross tends to distinguish those who volunteer versus those who get paid…but even that is a bit fuzzy) Unlike teaching, I think that I’ve had fewer bad paid staff than administrators. For head principals, I’ve only had 2 that were worth mentioning, and only 4 assistant principals/direct supervisors. Some of them were just evil, awful people, such as those I worked for at my last school. It takes real chutzpah to require somebody leave your building (especially when they have not done anything remotely close to harming children or breaking the law) and refuse to allow them to take their belongings… and then claim that they don’t know where the items are.
I am very fortunate now that, for the most part, my administrators at my current school are sane.
Within my volunteer work, in 20 years, I have 4 people that really made a difference, and encouraged me in new areas. I am forever grateful to the gentleman that allowed the under 18 year old me to join his disaster teams, take the classes, and serve on responses…
I think, that, on many levels, you’re correct. But, as with all areas, there are issues and I don’t know if treating people like volunteers is the best solution.

]]> By: Bob Sharp http://adrianbruce.com/teacher-toolbox/the-seven-habits-of-highly-effective-people/comment-page-1/#comment-62 Bob Sharp Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:22:00 +0000 http://adrianbruce.com/teacher-toolbox/?p=144#comment-62 Adrian,<br/>I was going to just pass on posting a comment because I am in a bad spot on this subject. I spent 34 years teaching and my last year was one of my absolute worst.<br/><br/>The current top three, i.e. my principal, my assistant superintendent and superintendent (lower case intended) manage by intimidation, harassment and fear.<br/><br/>I have had principals who were leaders and even though they did not treat us as volunteers, they did treat us with respect and compassion. One even was a buffer from a tyrannical superintendent. It would really be a different environment. <br/><br/>My brother built a business of food stores here in the U.S. based on the philosophy that managers needed to find the best in the individuals in the workplace, fit it to a company need, educate that person further, honor that new education by first of all paying for the training/education and then give that person a raise because you don't want to lose them. Praise that employee for doing well, help them if they make a mistake.<br/><br/>Imagine being honored for being a good teacher, praised for doing well with your students. It does happen some places.<br/><br/>If a district or even one school treated every employee as though they were volunteers? I volunteered for a couple of non profit organizations. They did honor us as often as they could and as well as they could afford. Working in an environment like that would be more pleasurable. Adrian,
I was going to just pass on posting a comment because I am in a bad spot on this subject. I spent 34 years teaching and my last year was one of my absolute worst.

The current top three, i.e. my principal, my assistant superintendent and superintendent (lower case intended) manage by intimidation, harassment and fear.

I have had principals who were leaders and even though they did not treat us as volunteers, they did treat us with respect and compassion. One even was a buffer from a tyrannical superintendent. It would really be a different environment.

My brother built a business of food stores here in the U.S. based on the philosophy that managers needed to find the best in the individuals in the workplace, fit it to a company need, educate that person further, honor that new education by first of all paying for the training/education and then give that person a raise because you don’t want to lose them. Praise that employee for doing well, help them if they make a mistake.

Imagine being honored for being a good teacher, praised for doing well with your students. It does happen some places.

If a district or even one school treated every employee as though they were volunteers? I volunteered for a couple of non profit organizations. They did honor us as often as they could and as well as they could afford. Working in an environment like that would be more pleasurable.

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