Leadership in Schools

I'm extremely concerned that education, particularly in the early years, is more and more being driven in the wrong direction by politicians and bureaucrats. In the last week I have heard the sad stories of two passionate educators resigning in resignation because of all the bureaucratic work expectations aside from teaching. Kathy Margolis wrote this letter to the press and posted it on Facebook. Gabbie Stroud's sad story was printed in the Griffith Review, and she has recently been interviewed by Richard Fidler on ABC Conversations. These true stories are, I believe, the tip of the iceberg. Teachers want to serve children, but more and more they are serving politicians and bureaucrats. Leadership in schools now gets lost between serving children and serving the bureaucrats and politicians. This is a sad situation. Schools should serve children and their becoming. Children should not be educated in the image of what politicians and bureaucrats think they should become. We've got the cart before the horse.

Leadership in Residential Care that Suffocates the Goodwill Spirit

Today I spoke with a lovely lady who organises activities and entertainment for residents in residential care. This work in Australia is called diversional therapy. She co-ordinates many entertainers who come and bring joy to the residents. But the bureaucrats have got it into their heads that: Entertainers must have a registered business number; Entertainers must claim any out of pocket expenses by submitting a claim form, and; The diversional therapist must submit all claims for approval and payment. How to suffocate the goodwill of entertainers and diversional therapists. So community entertainers who do not have a business number will be told they cannot bring their spirit of joy to the care home any more. Sad, sad, sad, but this kind of bureaucratic administration (in the name of accountability) is everywhere. These leaders ccould do well to learn more about servant leadership in Australia