Comments on: Candor is King

by: Mary Beth

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:46:18 +0000

We definately need these kind of teachings within our school systems. Dealing with dissent/diversity and being proactive is going to be a key for our future leaders.
It would also be a great idea to have teachings such as in Steven Covey’s book taught in our schools. The book is fabulous and would definately be a great gift.

by: Donna Koppy

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:46:46 +0000

One of the best gifts of teaching is watching children develop and act on their sense of fairness and justice. To be a part of guiding children as they learn to resolve conflicts, recognize the strenghts and weaknesses of other people and try to develop their best self is an awesomwe thing to behold.

My K-8 grade elementary school has adopted a program called Second Step to help facilitate communication and problem solving skills in the classroom. We have weekly class meetings with the students to discuss things. Students contribute to the meeting agenda and can also request a meeting if need be. Some people have voiced concern because they think this process gives the students more power than children should have! In practice, this porgram gives everyone tools to build good communication and problem solving skills in school culture that fosters a culture of respect for everyone.

by: Linda

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:20:23 +0000

This article reminds me of “The Paradoxical Commandments” (you can find them at www.paradoxicalcommandments.com), and one of them in particular, which is: “Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.” What this means is that honesty, frankness (and yes, dissent) will not always be welcomed with open arms and minds, as in your son’s school, but this should not prevent us from being honest, frank and dissenting anyway. That being said, there is a certain finesse your son exhibited in his dissenting which should be be overlooked. His dissenting behavior invited others to respond rather than react, and that it the mark of a true leader.

by: Tony Ettwein, Kalamazoo

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:37:48 +0000

I have to respond to Jim Delaney’s simple but impactful statement above: “Insecure people do not typically invite new ideas or dissent.” If Jim’s statement applies to any of us in our workplace, it should prompt us to question whether we want to stay there, or to determine what we can do to change it. And if it does apply to our government, we should have the courage that Jack had, and try to change that, too … vote, contribute a few dollars for the candidate of your choice, and work for change. Or as a group of our countrymen once said, “whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends (of achieving life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness), it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it.”

by: Mark John Hunter

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:35:03 +0000

Jack,

I hope your mother lets you know that in her position that the others in her organization are not always supportive of dissent, and that others in state government create dissent for unproductive reasons. Montessori Schools teach the way some things should be, not the way things are.

I have many times gotten into trouble when I let my thoughts be known. Boldness in expressing a person’s thoughts is a good trait. Understanding that the world does not run like your school is also a good thing to learn.

Mark

by: Dave Hochman

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 06:24:39 +0000

Dan, when I read your piece I thought of how I might contrast the freedom of dissent at Jack’s school with the Bush administration.
Then I read the great response by Gerald S. He said it all-there’s nothing left to say.

by: Gerald S.

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:52:48 +0000

Civil dissent should always be welcomed. I am a product of a K-12 Catholic education. We could not even have civil dissent with the good sisters.

Today, as a man approaching 69 years of age, we are not even permitted to carry out civil dissent. A man of 80 who was wearing an anti-war shirt was put into jail. We are living under a Nazi-fascist government.

The great Nazi Party (GOP) talks of family values. But, do you honestly believe that Hitler Bush and his Nazi cabal would be willing to listen to children’s civil dissent? Never!!! Hitler Bush is the GREAT DECIDER!!!

by: John G. Agno

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:57:51 +0000

Generation Y Millennials, as students and now in the workplace, have their own ideas about what leadership is…and…it’s not their father’s leadership style.

Today’s generation of employees grew up with direct, instantaneous access to information. They will search online to verify your message, as you speak, and challenge you with any contradictory information they find–no matter who you are. They’ve been conditioned by society to respond in this way. All their lives, they’ve been bombarded with trickery in advertising, media slants and political persuasions. And they can name many top-level managers who’ve gone to prison for unethical behavior–so titles and positions don’t impress them.

In fact, they don’t buy into any popular leadership theories because they have their own. They want leaders who they can form a relationship with and if they don’t respect and trust a leader, they won’t follow him or her. Your son, Jack, is playing out this new generational perception of leadership…which will be very good for society and industry.

by: Jim Delaney

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:58:17 +0000

Insecure people do not typically invite new ideas or dissent. In a past life I was Human Rersources V.P. for a large retail organization that had been around for over 100 years. During staff meetings I would make a point of asking my team members (particularly newer members) to question and challenge everything that we did and look at everything that we did with a fresh set of eyes every day. My point was simply “Just because we’ve always done it one way doesn’t mean we should continue to do so”. I was fortunate because my folks would really step-up and challenge themselves to find new and better ways to do many things.

Currently I am in HR with a large library system and I recall one of my first conversations with one of our senior librarians who wanted to know how she should cover a leave of absence. I asked her how she thought she’d like to handle it; she looked shocked and said no one had ever asked her for her opinion in the past, to which I responded ” You’re the librarian, you know how to run your business better than I do”. Taking that approach and demonstrating respect for other’s ideas pays off in spades many times over.

by: Marti Sageman

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:02:19 +0000

Dan,

Tell Jack I love him. He reminds me of myself.
I believe everyone has a right to be heard. If more people would be listned to there would be less grievances.
As a school board member I beieve everyone has a right to be heard.
Whenever something happens you seem to have the answers to my questions. I believe if I’m right God will give me the black and white information to prove it. Today proves my point.
Tell Jack to keep up the good work.

Marti

by: Helena

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:41:28 +0000

Way to go, Jack. Good for you. Good for your teacher and the principal. Good for your classmates. Bravo!