Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Don't pass out matches

The other day, I read this quote on Twitter: "Instead of putting out fires....let's not pass out matches" (@daveburgess).  It's been haunting me ever since.  As a teacher and now an administrator, there are a lot of fires and potential fires that must be addressed daily.  But, I didn't enter this profession to be a fireman.  Instead, I want to be a teacher, a coach, a leader who makes a difference in the lives of teachers and students.  I would assume that most others in the profession feel the same way.

As I reflected on this statement, a couple of key ideas came to mind.  First of all, in my little sphere of influence, I have the opportunity to pass out a lot of matches...or not.  Second, I can't control what kindling others bring in the building with them, but I can often control whether it gets lit.

Or, in simple English, my actions can often control whether a situation becomes out of hand or whether it becomes a non-issue.  Also, there is no way for me to change what has happened to a person before they enter my building, but, by my actions, I can influence how they react to it. 

For example, in a typical classroom, behavior problems often occur when children are given too much extra (free) time or when they are unmonitored, such as when the teacher has their back to the class or is in the hallway with someone else.  They also occur when the work is at a level that is either too high or too low for the child.  These are examples of matches.  If a teacher can identify avoid these situations, then many behavioral issues can be avoided.

The same is true for principals and other leaders. As a principal, I have to reflect on my actions daily and plan how to avoid problem issues, especially when related to staff and parents.  If I can identify potential problem areas early, then I can either eliminate them or avoid causing them to grow.

Putting out fires is not a task I enjoy.  I would much rather spend my time helping teachers and students grow and developing positive working relationships with parents.  Therefore, I must determine early and often when I am potentially "lighting a match" that may lead to a future fire and do everything in my power to avoid that action.

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