Guest Blogger for Dangerously Irrelevant

[Mike Parent]

I will be a guest-blogger on Scott McLeod's Dangerously Irrelevant the week of February 18-22. Each day will pose a nee discussion. I will be blogging about the following:


1. The practice of assessing assessments - So much thought, time, and finances are dedicated to what I refer to as professional development "quick shots" and "whit-outs"; simple solution add-ons, incorporates, and programs designed to raise the bar of rigor and, hopefully, improve standardized test scores. Yet so much of what really matters is neglected. The essential question to be discussed is "Are assessments assessed and how?" Support will be given (and a presentation) from The Education Trust an other minor studies.


2. I read a very influential book this month - The No Assholes Rule by Robert Suttnn. I know the title is tough, but his management and leadership ideas are a welcome message for school leaders who either inherit or find many "assholes" in their organization. So much of leadership training focuses on living with these people, but Sutton offers us a chance to be realistic and tactical, It's not fluffy. I might amend the "asshole" to be more tactful.


3. Another work I am reading and finding fruitful is The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb (thanks Skip Zilla!). He put a new perspective on looking a data; we should study the outliers and avoid the temptation to disregard what is abnormal, as the black swans can tell us something incredible about our organizations, our leaders, and our culture.


4. The best/worst practices in Special Education. An open thread for the best/worst kept secrets in schools.


5. Competing to End Education Competition. A narrative about why schools see the need to rank themselves and compete to be number one. I will use much of Alfie Kohn's material as support as well as anecdotal material.


I'm looking forward to my guest appearance. I hope you read along and add to the discourse.