13 January 2008

Conversation with Grant Wiggins

11 January 2008


On Friday we had a videoconference with Grant Wiggins of Understanding by Design fame.


He was advising us on our work with the Graduation Expectations as the high school. This year we have worked with our mission statement and defined what the graduation expectations would be.


A couple of the things that Dr. Wiggins talked about that I thought were worthy to record:


1. We don't do a good enough job of explaining to kids the consequences of not being able to do our graduation expectations. Or even explaining why they need to do certain things.


2. Good getting better. Dr. Wiggins did an excellent job of describing why a good institution needs to always strive to get better. His example was the Red Sox. The Red Sox won the World Championship this year but they are still working to get better this off season. They are trying to acquire Johann Santanna and are trying to make sure their middle relief is better than it was last year. The same goes for a team like the NE Patriots. Suppose that they go 19-0. Will they return the same team next year? No. they will do whatever they can to make it all happen again.

All of the talk radio shows this week have been talking  not about the Patriots possible victory but what might happen in terms of their dynasty.  What makes a dynasty, etc.   And the thing is, all of the teams that have won one Superbowl are not even in the conversation.  We are talking about teams that have won many times in an era.  Many times with the same crew.  

Obviously we are not trying to develop a sports team at CHS but parts of the analogy does fit in some ways.  We should not be happy with temporary acknowledgement of success, we should continue to endeavor to become better.