Adele Bates’ Post

"A mediocre performance I fear, is the just retribution for a mediocre system" Just like we don't waste time with foolish people, similarly, if a system is foolish and takes us as fools, we don't invest our resources with it. If we are legally bound to do so, we invest an average amount of resources. Kicking academic excellence out of the door for teens might be, sadly, a good bet for kids' future. There is a difference between man's child and that of animals. A man's child is not ready to hit the road straight out of birth. Its functional abilities reach a stable level years later. During this time and after, care should be devoted to upbringing. They should be inculcated with great values, awareness of their environment, and social skills. The current educational system has set education as a teen's life goal. Its curriculum is filled with everything but what relates to man's upbringing. Parents should bring up the child I hear you say, but, the system takes up so much time that no time is left for upbringing. And it sucks so much energy that a child is drained when reaching home. And this sick routine as early as 3 years of age, holidays included. Is the curriculum geared toward financial success? No, it does not teach about economics as a foundational topic or managing money or wealth creation or studying how people hit millions and billions. It seems tailor-made for people to be employees. And people think that it's good to excel in a system that is preparing you to work hard for someone's else economic success. People leave the educational system as uneducated animals. They know how the environment works, and what exists in the world, but they are uneducated as to how they should act in society. Education also includes practice. If in pursuing 'education' you never respected elders, then you were never educated in terms of respect. To excel in a system, you need to devote focus, time, and energy. You invested so much in a system that leaves you deprived of good moral grounding and excellent human character. You take care to prepare for exams as you know great results don't materialize out of thin air, but, you rely on society's hazy hangover to become a wholesome human. As the educational system completely does not care about man and his standard of life, it's the responsibility of parents to ensure that family ties are maintained, that cooperation exists in a society, that a child returns good for the bad, is altruistic, and knows about good and evil. To do that, if we have to invest less in an educational system, it's worth it. If we don't invest in man to become good, material investment will turn out to be wasteful or harmful. People in control of powerful technologies will be selfish and people, while abandoning their upbringing for 'education', turn rogues, will demolish the very advanced infrastructure everyone has been working to further. Good, wholesome and competent people bring out good, wholesome and competent systems.

Grateful to Dr Mine Conkbayir and Emer O'Donnell for making me aware of this article. Again - interesting use of language 'to repair the sagging school attendance figures in England" 'Pupil absences remain stubbornly higher than before the Covid pandemic,' Yet again - I find myself with more questions than answers: ❓Why as a nation are we keen to find magic one size solutions to problems? ❓Why don't we pause long enough to ask deeper questions? ❓Why do we like to put the blame on the individuals rather than looking at the impact of the environment? ❓What could we do with 15 million pounds that would best support our young people, our teachers, parents and carers? It's not linear. It's not simple cause and effects It's complex. It's multifaceted. It's systemic. It's not homogenous but very much heterogenous. "We’re talking here about 140,000 children who are missing [from school] at least 50% of the time, according to the latest data" I believe this data is a huge underestimation of the actual number of young peopl who are unable to attend school regularly. ❓ What would be our attitude if these children were adults? ❓Why don't we want to find out what is going for each one of them? ❓ Why do we like to separate mind from body and individual from context/environment? These 140,000 are not simply numbers and variables. Just like Ruth Perry wasn't a variable and a number. We are talking about human BEings who have feelings, emotions and are experiencing very difficult times and no doubt suffering no end! Where is our kindness? Where is our understanding? Where is our curiosity? Where is our openness? Where is our compassion? Where is our flexibility? When did we lose it all??? It's time to start having different conversations. It's time for us to truly CARE FOR rather than CARE ABOUT our young people as Nel Noddings says. And if you want to understand the difference, check out this fab interview with her: https://lnkd.in/erMZa56X https://lnkd.in/eZvZskFc And please don't tell me this can't be done. As the wonderful Caroline Clark always tells me 'we, human have made up all that crazy sh#t'. All our systems, our schools, our institutions. They've all been created by us humans. So we can definely create something else!!!! No excuse!!!

It’s hard, isn’t it, when you see a ‘problem’ not to rush in with a solution to fix it and stop it immediately. Maybe that’s a good thing, if you’re looking at it the right way. How do you view the behaviour of children in your setting? The ones who, despite your behaviour policies, still have their names on the cloud/board, miss out on playtimes & golden time and no matter what you say or do, repeat those undesirable behaviours time and time again. Their behaviour just doesn’t change, does it? It becomes your problem. How often do you stop and wonder why? I mean, really give time to it? I wonder, do you recognise, and give thought to, the adult’s (it could be your own) repeated behaviours too? All too often we place expectations on our young learners that far exceed their capabilities. Especially when it comes to their social & emotional capacity. There’s this ‘blanket’ approach we throw over the class that leaves little, or no, wriggle room for children who are finding it hard. The majority will find it hard, at some point or other, regardless of their story. Schools are packed full of ‘all of the things’ and these young brains are expected to keep up, keep in line and do them when told. Do. The. Next. Thing. And. The. Next. And. The. Next. Remember how exhausted you feel by Friday? Yet you’re the one who’s led their learning all week, you knew what was coming next, you had it planned for. Your class just followed your lead. Then, when it’s just too much, for whatever their reason, and they act out, instead of just stopping & gifting them some time to just be & process it all, there’s a sense of ‘this cannot be’ and it ‘must be stopped’. This must be ‘fixed’ Most of the children comply and are ‘good’ again. Job done, right, success, the policies work. For others, their struggle is so big, so difficult that’s not an option. What do you do next? Where do you go from there? What are you to do? It’s hard, I understand that. You’ve targets to hit. Their needs are so varied and complex and after all, you’re teachers not therapists, right? There’s no scheme or formula that’s going to ‘magic’ the problems away. There’s no checklist to work through. No, you’re not therapists, counsellors, or psychologists, you are the teachers. You are their teachers. What do you do? 🥰You teach them what support is. 🥰You teach them real empathy, compassion and kindnesss. 🥰You teach them that adults can be trusted, 🥰 You teach them that they’re safe and you care. 🥰You teach them all of this before maths & English A regulated adult becomes a place of safety. Children can learn when they’re regulated, connected with others and feel safe. Did you know, it takes the same energy & effort to create that as it does to keep buffering up against those undesirable behaviours? Let me know what you think. #traumainformedteaching #childrensmentalhealth #traumainformed #schoolleaders #headteachers #primaryschools #multiacademytrusts

Our experience with this tutor has been nothing short of frustrating and disappointing. He offered a revamped payment structure and abruptly introduced a 10-block payment system, creating an unnecessary financial burden. Initially, lessons seemed okay, but warning signs started emerging. Firstly, he asked us to watch his son, during sessions, blurring the boundaries of professionalism. Additionally, he relied on us to pick him up from gym sessions, showing a lack of responsibility on his part. His constant tardiness and frequent changes in session times, which initially seemed like flexibility, turned out to be a major inconvenience. One significant concern was his refusal to provide progress reports. When questioned by the school, he would evade responsibility, forcing us to argue with him. He never had a structured study plan, merely helping complete schoolwork and complaining about the school's teaching methods. The final straw was catching him using inappropriate language around our child. When confronted, his excuse was frustration, and he dismissed the need for professionalism with a joking attitude. This incident raised serious concerns about the tutor's suitability for working with children. Moreover, when we prepaid £200, he refused to refund it, claiming a no-refund policy that was never communicated at the start. It's crucial to always be present during sessions and refrain from paying in advance to avoid financial loss. His disregard for punctuality, constant phone use, and sharing workout videos during lessons added to the unprofessionalism. Unfortunately, our recommendation to other families led to similar negative experiences, making it clear that he consistently takes advantage of others' cooperation, kindness, and naivety. In conclusion, this tutor is not only unreliable but also unprofessional and unsuitable for anyone seeking quality educational support for their child. Proceed with extreme caution, if at all, to avoid the frustration and disappointment we endured.

It’s not your fault the education system is under funded and in crises. It’s not your fault that young people today are facing unprecedented mental health challenges that are impacting on everyday school life. It’s not your fault that some parents won’t engage. It’s not your fault that some of those above you don’t value what you do and your vision. It’s not your fault that some of those you manage don’t follow through. Of course it isn’t. But this isn't about blame. The problems schools face are so complex that it’s too simplistic to talk about ‘fault’ But it IS your responsibility to play your part in the solution. After all that’s why you wanted to be a school leader in the first place wasn't it?  You wanted to make a difference. It’s just sometimes the weight of everything that needs changing can be heavy. I get  it. I feel it too. The truth is, you  can’t control everything. You don’t have a magic wand but you DO have some power. You can create some change. It might not solve everything but never doubt the impact you can have. Every young person deserves to have leaders in their school who care, who work towards change, who advocate, who put them and their learning first. Every young person deserves a leader like you. Don’t you forget it. The challenges are not your fault. But doing something about them is what you're here for. ✊

What are the youth of today worth? $00.25? $2.50? $25? $250.00? $2,500.00, $250,000.00? LIFEBOAT SERVICES aims to enhance the learning of the youth through integrating an innovative mentoring-based platform as the base of our operation. The mentor program is the flagship of LIFEBOAT SERVICES. This program involves youth mentoring which is a process of matching mentors with young people who need or want a caring, responsible adult in their lives. Mentoring has been shown to improve self-esteem, academic achievement, and peer relationships and reduce drug use, aggression, depressive symptoms, and delinquent acts. Mentors are positive role models who inspire, encourage and guide young people to achieve their potential. This is facilitated by Dr. Spann as the mentors assist with the facilitation within age-specific groups. Our mission is to foster both holistic and progressive learning behaviors among youth, ages 9-16, by empowering them with the skills and mindset that are essential for their success within today's rapidly changing world. This will empower the students to identify, grasp, demonstrate and then develop accountability in their decisions by identifying and developing, • Healthy, positive self-development. • Understanding dysfunctional based thinking such as the disease of addiction. • Improve health through education designed to empower participants to confront their existing perceptions and knowledge about alternatives for healthy eating to improve/maintain a healthy lifestyle. This is in line with the vision of “to create healthy communities where children and youth feel safe to trust.” Currently, LIFEBOAT SERVICES has recruited 20 young people. LBS will open its doors in the fall of 2024. If you want to help out LIFEBOAT SERVICES's mentoring program, reply to this post or send a request to lifeboat61@gmail.com.

The way society is set up, it 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 be surprising to me that there aren’t more parents who have a properly-developed strategy for their child’s education. All of the -isms The social hierarchy The zero-sum paradigm But it's not surprising. It's 100% understandable because you’re doing all of the (right?) things to give your child their best shot … to secure a better future. ⭐️ You pay close attention to schools when choosing where to live, especially when buying a home. You don’t just send your child to any school, you send your child to the best school you can access. If you’re paying for private school, it can easily be one of your largest, if not the largest household budget items. You've opened a 529 or other savings account. You've been as active as you can be in the PTA (or equivalent) or volunteer as much as you can. You invest in extracurricular and summer programs. You join all the right programs, groups, and associations for added measure. You’re not looking for guarantees, even though that would be nice. You’re tapping into your instinct to deal an improved hand to your child. Still … You’re sometimes uneasy. You might be second-guessing yourself. Uncertainty keeps you up at night. The unexpected throws off your plan. It’s a matter of strategy at this point. 💡 When you have a proper strategy, you can confidently make decisions because you will have mastered five strategy choices: 1. Ultimate goal / “winning” aspiration 2. Where to “play” 3. How to reach your goal 4. Must-have capabilities 5. Enabling management systems Your strategy is about dynamic problem solving; it is your decision-making framework. Strategy is not a guarantee for a certain outcome, but when done well, it drastically improves your odds of achieving your goal. ✅ You’re playing the long game—but it doesn’t have to be against all odds. Join the founding cohort of the Education Strategy Parent Academy to learn how to build the strategy you need to make decisions with greater confidence and less stress. Grab the full Program Guide + enroll: tinyurl.com/ESPA-Guide Send me a DM or book a call if you have questions—Calendly link in the comments. … Notes: • “No matter what hand we are dealt, it’s our biological and social imperative to deal an improved hand to our children.” —Dr. Jonice Webb (Running on Empty) • Mastering the 5 strategy choices is from Roger Martin. I participated in the founding cohort of his certification program last fall.

🚀 Dive into our latest article shedding light on the holiday challenges faced by students. Share your thoughts, spread awareness, and let's build a supportive community. Read it now! 📖💬 https://bit.ly/4asyjIs #ArticleAlert #StudentWellbeing

HOW AM I GOING TO HAVE TIME TO DO THAT? 😮 Heading back to working with schools this past week has been a keen reminder to the team at Coactive about the broad range of 'jobs' that school leaders face. I sometimes think that the position description of a school leader would stick at all in the corporate world....jack of all trades for sure. In fact, I arrived at a school just this week and the Principal hollers from the bathroom, "Sorry Del, hang fire, I just dealing with a blocked loo". Well, the caretakers not back, plumbers tricky to find and the job just need done right! Next minute, we are donkey deep in the school strategic plan. A day in the life for sure! The realities that school leaders face at the beginning of the year are real. New teachers and support staff to onboard (or even still recruit), new families, resourcing, team building, pastoral care, problem solving and much much more. At our planning hui this year, we came up with a theme that would guide our mahi in 2024 - SUPPORT. We made a list of all the 'challenges' that leaders might face this year and worked to figure out ways that WE might be able to support and help. Here is our first SUPPORT:) The Ministry of Education supports schools with Professional Learning and Development in many ways and one such way is through the Regionally Allocated PLD funding. This year, things have changed a bit and the first round of applications close on the 23rd February. Not much time between now and then right? So, our team recognised this short lead in as a possible challenge for leaders. It could be tricky to get an excellent and clearly articulated application complete at this time of year. We put our thinking caps on and have decided to offer our services, to SUPPORT school leaders to shape a 'theory of improvement' and complete an application in the February round- completely FREE OF CHARGE. On us! No tricks here folks! Even better, if leaders are based in Auckland, we have set aside an afternoon where you can join us at our Parnell Office, have coffee and cake and hear a few impact stories about how other schools have used PLD to shape up working with their communities to bring their local curriculum to life. This is not a sale pitch! Of course, if we have the skills you need, we'd love to work with you BUT we just want to help you figure out what it is you need, how you are going to make change and to shape up an application that clearly articulates what your plan is. Once approved, if your needs are meet elsewhere, we'll be happy just to have helped you keep on your improvement journey. Simple as that. If you are not in Auckland, you can contact us and we will arrange for one of us to zoom with you to get your application sorted. Ko koe ki tēnā, ko ahau ki tēnei kīwai o te kete. 🤲 INVITATION 15th Feb 2024 1-4pm. St Georges Bay Road, Parnell RSVP to our awesome Ed Services Manager shinchco@coactiveeducation.com