Things continue to move forward with the charter schools. I listened in to a few of the law makers share their thoughts the other day. One advocated for the charters. The other opined ominously, “I’m not sure this is the time to try something new.” Sneaky me, I was able to catch that guy’s response on video. Here, take a look:
Do you remember this fellow? He’s bound to be anywhere there’s a new idea being considered.
I wanted to leap to my hiking boots, wave my arms and shout, “If not NOW, WHEN?!” (Like I needed to stick out more in my bright polar fleece in the sea of uber important looking suits filling the room.)
With all due respect though, I could follow his reasoning. Something new means it might not work. There might be waste. The results may not pass muster. It might FAIL. And we have been well trained to avoid failure at any cost.
I hope this bill passes and I hope it ushers in a new day of plenty of failure. Because failure means we’re shaking things up and moving forward. Failure means we’re trying new things, exploring uncharted territory. Change and failure go hand in hand. It is something we should pursue not avoid! And yes, it is scary.
To maintain and defend the status quo, broken as it is, is something far scarier to me. (Added bonus: If a charter does “fail” there is accountability and recourse unlike a typical public school.)
Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently. Henry Ford
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