#38 - Missing
The main function we are missing in our culture is Corrections. We have a Department of Corrections, but it’s really jut a Department of Incarceration. We don’t really have a function called “corrections.” Mistakes can be intentional or unintentional, but they are a part of living and corrections are also a part of living. Corrections are perfectly normal.
We sort of improvise corrections as we go or we don’t see the need for corrections or we’re just too apathetic to put out the effort to correct something. Most companies and organizations don’t have real correction functions. The owner, person in-charge or a random responsible individual might take on the job or maybe it’s group-think that moves the dial and does something. No matter how you slice it, corrections are not part of our normal way of thinking. Having a correction function doesn’t necessarily require people, but it does require that a function, even if it’s less than full-time, that people know, exists and that they know how to access it.
When we look over education, we see lots to correct. We let the situation get progressively worse for decades, if not centuries. A lot of it has taken a long time to develop, but it’s not any less in need of change or correction and quickly.
Some corrections are for really egregious violations and require immediate, sometimes drastic, action. Other corrections are relatively mild and more tolerable and can withstand some time which might be needed to introduce, persuade and get approvals to get corrections into place.
Our Recall proposal is one. It is not aimed at anything specific or urgent, but that addresses a really big need to change the dynamics of the system so that ‘we, the people’ are in-charge, not the state or school board.
180 Day Period of Review is another. An overall change (correction) in how the system works.
Both Watchdog (see post on Transparency) and Advisory Committees are also vehicles for correction. In this case, you’re putting a function in place that will provide needed corrections on a continuing basis. These functions have the added advantage of putting somethings there that will watch people and processes and captures anything that needs correction.
Rules and guidelines are designed to preempt the need for correction. If everybody follows the rules and guidelines, then there is normally no need for correction.
Correction can apply to anything. Actions, procedures, people, textbooks, materials and curricula - they are all subject to correction.
Another dimension of correction is “how much?” If something deviates a lot from where it should be, then a lot of correction will be needed. Small error - small correction. Big error - major correction.
So, it’s really our consideration about what is standard and normal that defines how much correction is needed. What is normal? What are our Standards? What can we put up with, for now? Some places and things to look at or stimulate your thinking:
Dictatorial vs Democratic
Instructive vs Indoctrination
Policy and Procedure vs Political Pining
Classically Traditional vs Comprehensive Progressiveness
Traditional vs Trendy
Commonsense vs Carelessness
Dependable vs Deceit
How much correction? It depends on what the violation is and the severity of the deviation from what you consider normal. The main thing is to get and remain vigilant and take positive and swift action when you see something that needs to be corrected.
Another way to decipher the truth: if they’re telling them WHAT to think, it’s probably an operation to indoctrinate students. If they are giving students data or teaching them HOW to think, then it’s likely that education is taking place. It’s probably deception or indoctrination if students are being told WHAT to think. It’s really simple and easy to see.
To summarize:
There is a standard, a normality and occasionally we need to correct to get back to it.
Corrections range from minor to major requiring immediate or long-term action and minor or major action
We need to learn and be aware of Procedures, Policies, procedures and Organization and we need to report what we see.
We need to correct deviations from normal ASAP.
Another important point. We need to act now! We can’t wait until next week, next month or next year. We need to move now. Please read our post Do Something by clicking here/
Unions, by the way, are not helpful and don’t substitute well as a correction. The only time unions are helpful is when what we want coincidentally aligns with their goals and purposes.
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