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(Re) Situating Commonwealth: Educational Leadership at a Time of Demographic Change June 7, 2014. Myth, Fairytale and Educational Equity. Carolyn M. Shields Wayne State University, Detroit MI. Challenge your beliefs, values, assumptions, practices. Education for All? .
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(Re) Situating Commonwealth: Educational Leadership at a Time of Demographic Change June 7, 2014
Myth, Fairytale and Educational Equity Carolyn M. Shields Wayne State University, Detroit MI
Theoretical Perspectives Oakes & Rogers (2006) –reject technical reforms and call for equity reform Social justice – almost meaningless Transformative Leadership Origins: Burns 1978 • Foster 1986 • Quantz, Rogers, Dantley, 1991 • Blackmore, 2011 • 2000s many scholars
Transformative Leadership • Mandate--deep and equitable change • Deconstruct and reconstruct knowledge frameworks • Focus--democracy, equity, and justice • Address the inequitable distribution of power • Private and public good • Interdependence, inter-connectedness, and global awareness. • Balance critique with promise • Exhibit moral courage. (Shields, 2011, 2012)
One Size Fits All… • Ignoring a student’s lived reality
Adapt the Institution …not the student
Deficit Thinking • From Elementary School to University • Pervasive Want a free ride Unmotivated Don’t care Lazy
Start From Student • Differentiate between minority and minoritized • Acknowledge lived experience • Recognize strengths • Develop positive relationships • Hold to high standards
Lessons from Procrustes • One size does not fit all. • We must adapt the institution and not the student • We must reject deficit thinking.
FairyTale: Princess and the Pea • Searched for a real princess • Great storm • Bedraggled young woman • Put her to the test • Marriage
Lessons • The prince was looking for perfection. • He made assumptions based on appearance. • Gave a totally inappropriate test. • Acted on the results of a misaligned test.
Looking for Perfection • Performance, appearance, speech, behavior
Make the rules explicit • Lisa Delpit … Make rules explicit • Be explicit about how to ask for help … • Do not expect perfection.
Understand & address … • Misplaced assumptions • Gabriel • Internalized others’ “deficit thinking” • Found a persistent advocate • His experience should not be the norm.
Opportunity vs Ability Ability to Learn Opportunity to Learn cshields@wayne.edu
Challenge Assumptions • Reject assumptions based on appearances • Reject prejudice and discrimination • Overcome institutional racism • Engage in dialogue; never ignore opportunities
Giving Inappropriate Tests • Admissions and placement tests • From primary grades to Higher Education
Appropriate Assessments • Open/closed book • Timed • Formal English • Acknowledge stereotype threat
Miller analogies CUBISM : PICASSO :: (____) : DALI Romanticism, Classicism, Realism , Surrealism (____) is to PUCCINI as SCULPTURE is to OPERA Cellini , Rembrandt, Wagner, Petrarch MAUNA LOA : ETNA :: HAWAII : (____) Sicily , Alps, Crete, Bosporus
Acting on Misinformation • They lived happily ever after • Or did they?
The Future • Graduation rates • Retention rates • Employment /unemployment • Incarceration • Health and Well Being
The Outcome Now : Working on Master’s degree Position in IT Highly successful
Remember Procrustes • One size does not fit all– differentiate everything • Adapt the institution not the student • Reject deficit thinking
Transformative Leadership • Mandate--deep and equitable change • Deconstruct and reconstruct knowledge frameworks • Focus--democracy, equity, and justice • Address the inequitable distribution of power
And The Princess and the Pea … • Hold high expectations but do not expect perfection • Build relationships - do not make assumptions based on appearance • “Test” appropriately • Ensure equity of opportunity and outcomes – do not misalign data
Transformative Leadership • Private and public good • Interdependence, inter-connectedness, and global awareness • Balance critique with promise • Exhibit moral courage. (Shields, 2011, 2012)
And Finally: Think of Gabriel • Become an advocate • Build relationships • Make learning relevant • Encourage • Support • Hold to high expectations
Differentiate … • Assignments Readings • Timelines • Tests • But not expectations or standards.