tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204358997085828680.post465293127442463312..comments2023-10-31T02:08:57.631-07:00Comments on 2010 ILC at Brown: Just...Wow.Madeline Kronenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809038721402994691noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204358997085828680.post-51767678654830624702010-07-15T10:52:43.348-07:002010-07-15T10:52:43.348-07:00Over the years, one of the problems I’ve seen with...Over the years, one of the problems I’ve seen with this class is the Action Plan. Too many times our students try to take on the problems of the world. While this is admirable, it’s also not very realistic. Even if they were a world leader they might have problems implementing some of their ideas but as a high school student it becomes even more difficult.<br /><br />I hope you all pick Action Plans that include things you actually have some control over. When the plan becomes too complex, it also becomes too easy for our students later to see the futility of their plan and the plan is abandoned.<br /><br />I would suggest that you come up with a list of problems that are local in nature: for instance, in your neighborhood or your school. Once you’ve found an appropriate problem, then try to figure out what you can do to correct this problem. Keep in mind that you’re being asked not to do the actual work but to lead others so it becomes a joint project with numerous owners.<br /><br />Sometimes this requires physical work and sometimes it just requires getting the word out to educate people.<br /><br />Good examples of this were the efforts put forth after the horrendous gang rape episode last Fall at RHS. Meetings were held and open dialogues were established that had the potential of educating segments of the community that saw nothing wrong with what happened; that were telling people that she had it coming; that professed that a woman should just sit back and enjoy ‘it’. There was potential for change at that time but was the plan well thought out? Did it really affect change? What did the plan do it perpetuate the dialogue.<br /><br />These are all the kinds of things you need to think about as you develop a plan. The buzzword of the day is “sustainability”. Is your solution to this problem sustainable? Will it go on even after the buzz and hubbub has settled down?<br /><br />The Action Plan you described recognizes a real problem and you have a good handle on implementing your plan. Something you might consider, though, is whether your plan will actually make a difference. Talking to the very same people who might benefit from this plan will only do so much good. It will do little to get the DREAM Act passed or implemented. As the old saying goes, you may be preaching to the choir. Do you want to spend your precious time and resources in converting people who are already on board or should you be talking to the uneducated masses to bring them into the fold? Do you want to simply rally the faithful in your own neighborhood or do you want to rally people where change can actually take place?<br /><br />You’re already asking many of the right questions about how to accomplish your goals and your idea of branching out and forming alliances with people in other areas looks good and promising.<br /><br />Your idea about trying to get more counselors at your school is a good one. When you see a problem like this, though, you have to look at it from both sides so you understand what the problem really is. Do you think that your principal thinks that your school only needs one counselor? Is there any chance that his hands are tied due to budgetary constraints? Keep in mind that you attend school in a district that recently needed to close ten schools largely because they couldn’t even afford the energy bills to keep the lights on. When the School Board divvies up their limited resources and hands your principal a small box of funds at the beginning of the school year he/she has to decide where that money should go. If he feels that an additional counselor is warranted, at the same time he has to decide what programs he can cut to pay for that counselor. Afterschool sports, the arts and music programs, the library, a teacher or two? Since there’s no more money on that box, something has to go if you want something extra. That’s a toughie.Don Gosneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17110247579694408858noreply@blogger.com