13 Clocks

In June of 1776, the delegates from the 13 colonies had a HUGE decision to make.  They could break free of England’s rule by declaring their independence or they could remain under British taxation.  The former would result in war and the loss of lives.  The latter would leave them in a state of “Taxation without Representation”.  This was a difficult decision and was not taken lightly.  People like John Adams and Samuel Chase were pushing for a declaration of independence and in fact, Thomas Jefferson had already written it.  Other delegates were on the fence.  Adams wrote, “Some people must have time to look around them, before, behind, on the right hand, and on the left, and then to think, and after all this to resolve.  Others see at one intuitive glance into the past and future, and judge with precision at once.  But remember you can’t make thirteen clocks strike precisely alike at the same second.”  Eventually, the delegates agreed on publicly declaring their independence from Great Britain with a “non-consensus” vote that forever changed the country for the good of its citizens  This was on July 2, 1776.   This is why we have an Independence Day to celebrate.

Over the years, schools make changes in the form of initiatives.  In my 37 years in education, I have been through many school initiatives – too many to list.  I recall moving from a traditional schedule to a Block 8 schedule in 1993 and the issues associated with it as there were strong opinions on either side.  Our school has not been immune from initiatives including such things as RtI Period, PBIS, SSR, FIERCE Fridays, AR, Enrichment Periods, Advisory, Double Blocks, and the Menu of Opportunities.  I fully understand that not everything that is done is birthed from a “consensus” vote.   In history throughout the world that there have been few “consensus decisions” on world events.  In schools, the important factor in making decisions should be based on this question first – “Will this be good for kids?”   When you make instructional decisions and planning decisions, the same measuring stick should be used. If not, it shouldn’t be done.  That is my belief.  Hopefully, everything that we do is with the best interests of our students in mind.  If it is good for kids, then we should probably be doing it. If not, that’s what the scrap heap is for.  That should be the common factor.  It was that way in 1776 for an entire nation.