Sway Beats Stiff

As true as Rock-Paper-Scissors, I’m reminded of an earlier one of my posts which ends with a Bruce Lee aphorism: “…the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind.”

I’ve been reading more articles on engineering topics lately in large part because like most parents my interests are influenced by my kids’ interests.  I suspect teachers employ the same tactics in relating to their students.  I came across an article that describes the world’s skinniest skyscraper – Steinway Tower.  It sits in Manhattan and provides 60 rental units, ranging from $18M to $EvenMoreBerzerko.  If you land an upper floor unit, and the wind ramps up on a given day, you could be swaying to the left or swaying to the right some 3 feet. 

Reading the article made me think of Danielle Bradbery.  She’s a native Texan who won season four of NBC’s The Voice in 2013, becoming the youngest artist to win the competition at age 16.  Four years later she released “Sway” which became an instant chart topper.  It’s equal parts smooth and swagger and features many student performers which is a great use of her platform.  She’s relatable in this song because she acknowledges the rough days we all have:

Hey, we’re all in the same boat

Life can really suck sometimes

But hey, can’t live in a shadow

So here’s a little piece of advice

Start by kicking off your shoes, leave ’em right by the door

Then you call a couple friends and you call a few more

In Texas (and basically any place you call elsewhere), public education is teetering.  A quarter of superintendents are leaving, half of school leaders are considering leaving the profession, and I had to personally sway a bit before processing this latest study.  The Texas State Teachers Association polled its members and the representative sample of some 700 respondents would suggest that 70% are seriously considering leaving the profession.  I’m a psychologist by formal education and I’m smart enough to know if a quarter of CEOs are quitting, half of mid-management is out, and nearly three quarters of the essential workforce is seriously uncertain, you’ve got big problems.  I should remind readers here that over 50M American students go to public school – some 90% of school-attending kids.

Late yesterday afternoon my wife scrambled over to the post office because our mail had been held well past its end date after we traveled to corn country for our first college bound kid delivery.  When she arrived she was greeted by a child who swung his car door open too quickly and left a lasting mark on my wife’s driver’s side door.  The child was cruising with his grandmother and as my wife tried to call attention to the grandmother, things ramped up quickly.  What followed was not ideal – grandmother became agitated and aggressive when presented with the fact that vehicle damage had occurred.  Profanity followed along with name calling (not by my wife).  I’m sure my wife was rattled by this exchange (who wouldn’t be?) so she went into full teacher mode and apologized to the kids (there were two grandkids for the ride along) and said they should not have to hear that type of language.  A few more F bombs followed by grandma and then one of the children agreed with my wife that the language was potty mouth.  Grandma eventually cooled her jets long enough to move on.

I have a theory based on my earlier days studying human behavior – folks show their worst selves with those they trust the most.  If 90% of children are directly impacted by public education teachers why can’t we extend that fact and then assume 90% of families are also impacted?  I’m angry my wife was confronted yesterday but I’m proud of how she handled the situation and especially proud of how she redirected the exchange to making sure the kids involved were recognized and respected.  I have no doubt this grandma loved her grandkids but she crossed some lines that thankfully a teacher was patiently willingly to retrace.  We’re slowly losing that luxury folks – if 70% of our shepherds to young people are considering a different calling who will fill that role?

Sway Beats Stiff.  Teachers everyday make adjustments in real time and without prior preparation – they improvise daily like no other industry.  If you are a person of influence reading this blog, do your part please and remind those you influence the value of an educated society and the most likely way we will get there and maintain that outcome.