The Cult of Homework

The Atlantic, published Joe Pinsker’s article “The Cult of Homework: America’s devotion to the practice stems in part from the fact that it’s what today’s parents and teachers grew up with themselves.” March 28, 2019.

So what is the value of homework? After sharing this article and speaking to a couple of teachers who have had experience in both the primary, secondary education the responding answer seems to be “it depends.” From an adult learner lens the focus, I believe, shifts from one of value to purpose. More often I see work for work sake or work as a means to get the learners to achieve some other result. If they answer these questions then they might learn and understand more about a specific subject area.

Take a read for yourself. Joe has some compelling thoughts. As with many ideas, placing them into action is harder than one might expect. But as one principal said to me over dinner, perhaps it is not the experience of teaching for over 25 years that hinders some rather the teaching for only three years, repeated for 22 additional years that is the larger problem.

Enjoy.

 

The Nature of Followership: Evolutionary Analysis and Review

The Leadership Quarterly, Volume 30, Issue 1, published Nicolas Bastardoz and Mark Van Vugt’s paper “The Nature of Followership: Evolutionary Analysis and Review” in February 2019.

Leadership, leadership, leadership… Today, the word leadership floats around the business, political, defense, and educational communities, just to name a few, at a rate similar to the “infectious crud” that inhabits schools the first three weeks after summer and winter breaks. The topic of leadership is debated, discussed, invested in and purported to be the answer too many group ills. But for every leader there must be at least one follower right? So why is it then that followership is of little discussion or research?

Nicolas Bastardoz and Mark Van Vugt attempt in their article, “The Nature of Followership: Evolutionary Analysis and Review” attempt to break that cycle. They argue that human tendency is to follow rather than lead. They argue, “Leader-follower ratios have changed from say a 1:5 ratio (hunting parties) in ancestral groups to 1:1000 or even 1:1,000,000 in large, modern organizations.” I do not believe that this argument takes into account all the mid-level leadership that exist in many formations however, the point is clear. The leader to led ratio has changed. In the 1990’s, the British anthropologist Robin Dunbar proposed a correlation between brain size and the average social group size, ~150 people. While not an exact equation, I find it interesting to the proposition of a social group limitation this also sketching out a possible leader to led balance.

While this article is written in more of an academic style, I would encourage those of you interested in bettering leadership, to take some time and explore the proposed side of followership.

 

As a Woman Serving Alongside Green Berets, I Had No Problem Keeping Up. It Wasn't Enough

The New York Times Magazine, published Jackie Munn’s article “As a Woman Serving Alongside Green Berets, I Had No Problem Keeping Up. It Wasn't Enough” on February 5, 2019.

The military is never lacking topics for discussion and debate. In the case of Jackie Munn’s article, I found myself asking the question, “when will people accept one another for the talents they possess vs the physical makeup of their flesh”? While this article is only one side of the story, there are most certainly personnel within the armed forces and throughout the world for that matter that judge people because of how they appear, or because of an initial interaction/first contact. More complex though are those beliefs and attitudes that are formed culturally within organizations or tight knit groups where an outsider is viewed as subordinate or inferior simply because of their lack of association. For examples of this look to unit affiliations, combat deployments, deployment locations, specific months and or years of service. This is by no means a call to let any and all join whichever group one “feels” they should be allowed unfettered access simply for being, rather a look internally at how many organizations, grades of Soldiers, graduates of institutions, branches of service, etc, view those around them and how they employ all the assets at their disposal.

I believe there is a misconception abounding that service should be return to some level of unknown normalcy. However, what our nations history has taught us is, there is no normal. Today represents the pace and direction for the next several years and in this next several years we will discover what new demands our nation may ask of us. If we are truly going to grow and rise above the churn, the bureaucracy, the friction, we will need to employ all assets within reach to the extent of their effectiveness.

Infantry soldiers, Green Berets, Afghan Special Forces and the Cultural Support Team members walking back from a mission on Combat Outpost Herrera in Afghanistan in 2012.

Infantry soldiers, Green Berets, Afghan Special Forces and the Cultural Support Team members walking back from a mission on Combat Outpost Herrera in Afghanistan in 2012.

 

How 1% Performance Improvements Led to Olympic Gold

Harvard Business Review, first presented Eben Harrell’s article “How 1% Performance Improvements Led to Olympic Gold” on October 30, 2015.

In my exploration of interesting documents and topics to share a running coach I know shared with me the topic of 1% performance improvements. All too often, especially around the new year, we tend to set far reaching and seemingly difficult goals. As goal attainment becomes more and more difficult over time, we become more and more frustrated, leading to possible goal failure or stagnation. Perhaps our goals need to be shorter duration, with shorter expectations and within with results that are attainable. Now, do not forgo the Jim Collins BHAG (Big Harry Audacious Goal) but understand that if you don’t break down that estate into smaller more manageable subsections than the overall finish line may be too far and perceived too complicated. How about setting a 1% gain in a couple different areas. With each marginal mark there is marginal success which builds and retains momentum. While discussed and highlighted initially in the world of cycling, the idea of 1% performance enhancement is something we all could benefit from.  How about 1% less email, 1% more time with family, 1% less time on our digital devices, 1% faster, 1% stronger, 1% more sleep, 1% better nutrition?  Pretty soon that 1% compounds upon itself and the snowball effect takes over. The primary article I read was the HBR piece by Eben Harrell. But, below are a few additional links to articles discussing the subject of marginal gains.  Take a read, see what you think.  Perhaps all you need is a 1% jump on 2019. Tell me what your 1% will be.

What if the Placebo Effect Isn’t a Trick?

The New York Times Magazine, first presented Gary Greenberg’s feature article “What if the Placebo Effect Isn’t a Trick?” on November 7, 2018.

This article covers lots of ground. From the origin of the placebo to Ted Kaptchuk’s (Professor of Medicine and Professor of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Harvard-wide Program in Placebo Studies and the Therapeutic Encounter (PiPS)), current research into the clinical application and relevance of the placebo, there is enough in this article for all readers.

Why a medical discussion on placebo? Good question. December’s Thought Distillery will cover the subject of Leading by Example: What Does That Mean. Simultaneously, I have heard in several podcast interviews and seen in quotes over the past month statements like “It is easier to act yourself into a new way of thinking, than it is to think yourself into a new way of acting.” by Millard Fuller or “Fake it till You Make it” by Unknown, etc. These phrases all sound to me like a sort of placebo effect. A leader is providing a sugar pill of sorts with the intent of organizational response. So I ask you, it this a fair comparison, or am I drinking too much “snake oil”?

I would be interested to what you have to say.

Photo Illustration by Paul Sahre

Photo Illustration by Paul Sahre