Well, Michael called me another question that led to still another question. He
asked, "Shouldn't the teacher be the boss in the classroom?"
I answered, "She or he should be a leader."
"What's the difference?" he replied.
"All the world," I said.
I explained that many academics talk about classroom leadership and practice
classroom a bossism. I was just reading something Russell Ewing wrote in which he
differentiated between a boss and a leader. He said, 'A boss creates fear, a leader
confidence. A boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes. A boss knows all, a leader
asks questions. A boss makes work drudgery, a leader makes it interesting. A boss is
interested in himself or herself, a leader is interested in the group' What Ewing is
saying is that the leader coaches while the boss drives, that true leaders are those who
lead by example rather than by intimidation. The primary task of a leader is to keep hope
alive, not instill fear Great leaders identify fears, erase them with love, and
therefore inspire. The whole point of leadership, then, is having power with people, of
giving power to people--not lording power over them. Leadership is not about authority
and power. I don't think authority and power are leadership. When you lead people you are
actually helping people accomplish more; you're helping people, in the words of the
Marines, be all that they can be.
This is something a lot of us academics should remember in the classroom.
Make it a good day.
--Louis--
Louis Schmier http://therandomthoughts.edublogs.org/
Department of History http://www.newforums.com/Auth_L_Schmier.asp
Valdosta State University www. halcyon.com/arborhts/louis.html
Valdosta, Georgia 31698 /\ /\ /\ /\
(229-333-5947) /^\\/ \/ \ /\/\__/\ \/\
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