Ring the bells!

Blog27:

Ritualistic passages ... repeated crossing paths ... are commonly embarked upon by individuals entrusted with a purposeful mission.   Whether it was an entrepreneurial team, a business development group, a religious organization or an educational institution, the same common mantra … “Out with the old, in with the new!” appears to be the thought choice expressed in whispers – at first, followed by distinct words put together in meaningful thoughts.  If it didn’t take that course, the mantra gets expressed through a much radical, passionate voice.  Either way, a renewal takes front and center stage for all to embrace, to lift up, and to sing- for long or short haul.

In Fall, or near Fall marks the season for many North American professional learning communities to return to the workplace.  Dispersed in the summer time for rest and recreation, women and men gather back to their buildings, grand or simple, so they could once again give serious thoughts and actions to the what’s and wherewithal’s of mind shaping, engaging, growing, expanding.  Devoid of ceremonial pomp, but with high energy and hope, they get together to welcome one another and the new school year.  They pledge solidarity; they form a united front to conquer the losses and pitfalls of a previously completed academic year.   They storm each other’s brains to line up goals and objectives as well as strategies for achieving higher ends.  A few highly committed groups build a climate of trust.  Still, others explore collaborative, interdisciplinary plans.  All focus on one important mission- that of leading young minds entrusted in educators’ care and pruning, molding.  Hopes are high that learners will take many critical thinking paths; young minds will develop curiosity in problem solving, applying skills, connecting learning and service, even pursuing global connections or aspiring to successfully go beyond the limitations or misses of a previous endeavor. 

“Out with the old, and in with the new,” – new ideas, new attitudes, new efforts of collaboration, respect, responsibility.  There could not be ‘stand-alone stances’, no ‘I don’t care about you or something’ gestures, no claims of ‘I’m better than you are’ or ‘I don’t care if you sink while I swim’ mindsets.  The success of all learners, all doers, and all creators, co-creators in an academia begins to load up and to rest on the shoulders of everyone with a stake in fulfilling ‘the mission’ identified for every thinking, doing, and conflict-resolving learner on any given frame of time.  There appears to solidify a common focus that the success of an enterprise, an initiative, comes to be rewarded only when everyone in the circle stands together, supports one another, and validates each other.

A mass of like-minded individuals begin another cycle of review-teach-learn-fail-reteach-relearn dawns.  Once more, academic bells ring 'out with the old, in with the new' - new hopes, higher dreams, realistic goals!