Perspective: Changes in perspective may improve education

Years ago best-selling author Richard Carlson, in the beginning of his book, "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff ... and it's all small stuff," wrote, "Often we allow ourselves to get all worked up about things that, upon closer examination, aren't really that big a deal."

True. A person's perspective is important.

The late Randy Paush, in his book, "The Last Lecture," told of how his mother helped him see things in the proper light. He said he was studying for his PhD and was suffering through an agonizing academic task and told his mother of the difficulty. She simply said, "We know just how you feel, honey. And remember, when your father was your age, he was fighting the Germans."

Again, perspective is important.

The lesson for all of us is that not every issue is a crisis; nor is every problem the end of the world. And another lesson is that when we see an obstacle in our path, sometimes the key to overcoming it may be in looking at it from a different vantage point.

For many years in education, we have taught students the way we were taught or according to the way we have always taught in previous years.

That's not necessarily bad. But it doesn't always guarantee success either.

It's far better if educators can gain from how other individuals or groups see things. It just might be that they see a more effective approach.

There are at least three different ways for teachers to begin to kick their way out of the traditional educational box.

1.) Teachers should listen to other educators outside of their own subject area. Many times math teachers work with math teachers; English teachers work with English teachers; vocational educators work with other vocational educators. Collaboration within a discipline can indeed be very helpful, but there also needs to be more cross-curricular discussions and planning.

Do you think if an art student is working on a geometry problem that he might see the depths and dimensions easier because of his experiences in art? I do. In my own experience, I had spent much of my childhood drawing. When it came time to see geometric formations as I should, it was easy.

2.) Teachers should listen to people outside of their own profession. When a minister spends time reading a variety of books and learning of the news and events of the day, it brings a great deal of enrichment to the sermon that is delivered at church. In a similar fashion, when educators learn from accountants, small-business owners, contractors, computer analysts, architects, farmers, mechanics, attorneys, bricklayers, public relations consultants, broadcast journalists, store managers and any other vocation under the sun, then their teaching gains several layers of relevance and meaning that simply were not there before.

And students more easily see that there is something valuable in what they learn in school each day.

3.) Teachers should listen to a vantage point that is outside their usual frame of reference. Every teacher has a passion for teaching on some level, but he or she has to grapple with what fuels that passion. Do we love teaching a particular subject or a particular content area? Or do we love teaching students? Or is it somewhere in between? If a person is locked in to the curriculum end of the spectrum and begins to look at it from the student end, it will change how he or she does business in the classroom.

Quite simply, a shift in one's mindset can make all the difference in the world. Simply covering content doesn't meet the needs of each student, any more than a lecture on good health meets the needs of every patient a doctor sees.

The truth is, you want your doctor to see exactly what is needed to address your unique medical needs. And you want teachers to work individually with your child based upon what he or she needs to be successful.

David Wilson, EdD, is the associate principal at Jefferson City High School. You may email him at [email protected].