dr. james d. laub, university of texas of the permian basin, national rural education association,...

8/14/2019 Dr. James D. Laub, University of Texas of the Permian Basin, National Rural Education Association, Annual Conference, 2009, National Presentation Titled: Creating a Challengi…

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Creating a ChallengingLearning Environment in

Rural Schools

National Rural Education AssociationAnnual Conference - 2009

James D. Laub, Ph.D.

University of Texas of the Permian Basin



Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels10th Plank of the Communist Manifesto

Free education for all

children in publicschools.



It’s not just a job,it’s an adventure.

Abandon conventional wisdom, all ye who enter here.

Rural Schools Consolidation Inclusion

Agrarian Calendar Circuit Teachers Limited Research Katy ISD East Bernard ISD Cowboy Rodney Strengths



Rural Quotes

You must relate to the community and you must fit into their world. I can drive a double cab, dually pickup worth$50,000 and nobody cares, but let me drive a used Lexuscosting $20,000 and the whole community is in an uproar

It is not uncommon to have parents picking up their children in pickup trucks with hay or livestock trailers in tow. Nothingsurprises you when you work in a rural district.

For a cross country track meet we submitted a bill for two hogcallers and a bag of feed cubes. The cross country routewent behind the high school and into a pasture. The prior week, the farmer had shot two wild hogs in the pasture. Thehog callers were used by the coaches at the north side of thewoods to keep the hogs out of the pasture. The bag of feedcubes was used to keep the cows penned up and out of theway of the runners.



Rural Quotes

I have to drive 84 miles, one-way, to make a complete visit toall my campuses.

All these mandates are a load of “horse manure”, we should beabout educating children, instead of worrying about red

tape, filling out papers and forms and trying to meetimpossible and unrealistic expectations.

Seeing how most representatives in legislative bodies areelected from urban and suburban areas, is it any wonder why rural areas get left behind in the process.

Regardless if issues are school related or not, ruralsuperintendents are the “county” official, they areeverything to everybody.



Rural Quotes

Often times more school business gets conducted over coffeeat the local feed store and in informal town meetings than inthe board room.

I have picked up trash, drove a bus, disciplined students,

unclogged toilets, cooked breakfast, and chased a skunk outof the flowerbed.

Some students are so frustrating that you want to slap themnaked and hide their clothes

Dealing with this student is about as much fun as jumping over a fence and eating a handful of dirt



Starting points

Parents do not hide the best students in the closet and sendthe rest to public school

Our job is to educate, not judge

Attitude reflects leadership

Faculty and staff are there by choice, the students are not

Whatever it Takes – we teach every child



Don’t jump to conclusions



Realms of MeaningSymbolics

Empirics

Esthetics

Synnoetics

Ethics

Synoptics



Realms of meaning Symbolics

Verbal, Nonverbal, Non-discursive Language

Ordinary Technical Jargon

Parts of Speech

Mathematics

Gestures/Signals

Rituals/Symbols

Rhythmic Patterns

Most Fundamental

Empirics Understanding logical

patterns and forms thatappeal to the imagination

Social Sciences Anthropology Economics Geography Sociology

Physical Sciences Physical Biology Chemistry

Psychology

Evidence

Analytical



Realms of Meaning Esthetics

Kinesthetic – mind, body and spirit

Music

Visual Arts

Performing ArtsLiterature

Ethics Values and morals, does it

help society Grounding Moral Knowledge Universal

Synoptics Subjectivity, society,

and intellectualcontent

Unites all the RealmsWhere we areWhere we come from

Religion Philosophy History



Synnoetics

Personal Knowledge and Meanings

Self

Personality

Responsible for Own Learning

Active Participation

G/T

Classroom Mission/Vision

Podium Lizard

Click. Click Ladies

Perception/Reality

Thought

College



Why ? The most important factor determining the quality of

a student’s education is the quality of their teacher

Time on Task

Engaged in meaningful learning Promote thinking outside the box

Personal Relationships

Know your students Do not be afraid to be human Capture their hearts – capture their minds



Postmodernism



If you keep doing things the same way, you will getthe same results

Teaching is lost in the politics of consensus –standardized testing

Decisions should fit the context, not astandard cookie cutter approach

Individuality, not standard measures andassumptions that conform to society

Open to consider all claims and theories, donot necessarily replace existing theories butchallenge existing boundaries



If you don’t know which road to takeany road will do

Reality is subjective, values, thoughts andideas are freely chosen

Individualism and individual decision making

Responsibility for ones self and ones choices

Always options, possibilities and probabilities

Systematic improvement – not status quo



“Your Just A Bad teacher”Mr. Holland’s opus

Know Your StudentsWWJD

Athletics & Extracurricular At Risk

Empathy Sympathy



Leadership 101 Leadership is not a

popularity contest, it isabout doing what is right

Any leader who is afraid of

losing their job, by doingtheir job, does notdeserve that job in thefirst place

If you keep doing things likeyou have been, you willkeep getting the sameresults.

The most successfulleaders are notnecessarily the sharpesttools in the shed.

They are savvy enough tosurround themselves with bright, energetic,optimistic subordinates,then get out of the way

Not afraid to train their

replacement



4 C’s of Educational Administration

Communication

Collaboration

Culture/Climate

Commitment



Communication The mediocre leader tells, the good leader explains, the

superior leader demonstrates, the great leader inspires

Great educational leaders impart a sense of

the extraordinary, they provide a pipeline sothat learning becomes a continuousadventure

Leadership is about finding solutions toproblems, even in the best of circumstances,leadership is difficult



CollaborationPeople support what they help create

Facilitate and provide a conduit

Engage minds and seek energy, rely on thethinking of others

Bottom line – we are here for the kids



Culture & Climate Bricks and mortar make a building, they do not make a

school

Mistakes make us better, use them as a learning

opportunity

Challenges are merely accomplishments in disguise

All students are capable of learning, learning comes inmany forms



Commitment

It is important to know what are yourshortcomings and how can you improve, tobecome a better leader.

Is the result of a pragmatic, systematicprocess driven by customer needs,expectations, and requirements

Do it better – may not be required, but we willdo it anywayHigher Order Thinking Real World Applications Problem Solving



Where are We Going ?An Acceptable to

An Exemplary District

How Do You Eat anElephant?

One Bite at a Time

Make and Effort – Not an

Excuse



Student ImprovementCharacteristics

Shared mission and goals DIP/CIP Academic press for achievement High expectations Culture/climate

Orderly environment Structure Clear student goals Strong classroom management Attendance

Support for teacher influence Shared decision making Risk takers Staff Development Guidelines/Procedures/Policies



Student ImprovementMistakes

Treating the symptoms – not the underlying problemsDig into the data

SystematicTeaching Practices

Biting off more than you can chewFractualSmall scale, short term

Focusing only on tangiblesCulture

AttitudesBeliefsExpectations



Initiatives

A Day in the Life

Curriculum Resource Library

Portrait of a Graduate

Positive Contacts

Change Perceptions

Technology



Thinking Outside the Box –Country Style



References Dr. William Kritsonis – Ways of Knowing Through

the Realms of Meaning

Dr. Philip Phenix – The Realms of Meaning

Dr. Fenwick English – The Postmodern Challenge toEducational Administration

Contact Info: [email protected] 432.552.2164 office 432,770.2606 cell

dr. james d. laub, university of texas of the permian basin, national rural education association,...

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