Trish Walsh
Reflection
“The Culture Builder” by Roland Barth
Saturday, January 25, 2008
In reading “The Culture Builder” by Roland Barth, I pondered the “nondiscussables” at my school site. Not only does every school have them, but I would surmise every group working collectively has them as well. I do believe a school’s culture is influenced almost as much by what is implicit as the things that are said explicitly. The nondiscussables can have both a positive and a negative effect on a school’s culture and staff.
My school is a National Blue Ribbon School. But even at a school that is “the best of the best,” we have our issues! Some nondiscussables are simply things that are expected of one another as professionals. These unspoken expectations can keep the ship sailing smoothing without the need for nitpicking. Cleaning up after yourself, meeting deadlines, following office procedures are a given; they are an implied part of our school culture. Negative nondiscussables sometimes outweigh the positive, however. The negative nondiscussables at my school site include staff tardiness and time spent at work, individual work ethics, personal business conducted during work time, lack of support for professional development, and lack of support from the district office. The big ones include inequity with aides, responsibilities, prep time and release time. These are all things that small groups complain about to one another behind classroom doors that fester silently over the course of the year or years. These irritants ultimately pit staff members against each other in subtle ways. Holding on to these cultural irritants is not healthy for individuals or the school as a whole; it does nothing but keep a good group of people from working together harmoniously to make learning great.
Barth acknowledges that school cultures can be “toxic,” but that does not have to be the case. Non-emotional discussions with the whole staff can do a lot to decrease the toxicity. If I had the opportunity to address the nondiscussables at my school site, I would initiate the conversation from a logical standpoint. I would probably submit a list to my principal for her to bring up openly at a staff meeting. She may designate me, as the principal designee to lead the discussion. If not, I am sure I would be a vocal participant. It would be important to start with positive things about our culture that may not always get pointed out. Just as with students, I would be sure to praise and draw attention to the great things happening on our campus. I would emphasize how little things could probably do a lot to improve upon what is already so good. Then I would, without pointing fingers, bring up some of the common nondiscussables that may bother many on staff. I would remind everyone that addressing issues is nothing personal – it is simply a way to improve how we all feel about our work and how we spend our days.
I do not know if I would expect direct action as a result of the conversation, as Barth points out that school cultures are highly resistant to change. I would feel good, however, about getting everyone’s eyes open to issues that affect us all. I would hope to be a model and encourage others, through my actions and openness, to begin to make small changes over time. I would hope that the people I work with want to continue learning and growing in order to help our students learn and grow. Ultimately, I believe that convening to reexamine our school’s vision statement would be helpful, as would revisiting Professional Learning Community norms created by the group with the intention of keeping nondiscussables to a minimum. When the fire beneath the nondiscussable issues is extinguished calmly and professionally, everyone has the chance to move forward and foster a positive school climate and culture.
Roland Barth encourages his readers to build their school culture in order to inspire lifelong learning in both it staff and students. Each individual on campus has a huge influence on the school’s climate each day. I intend to be positive and open on any campus or in any position in which I serve. I hope that I am lucky enough to be a part of a healthy school. If not, I know that I would do whatever I could to reduce toxicity and certainly never contribute to it.