Comments on: Make It Concrete: Tell Me a Story or Give Me an Example http://blog.schlechtycenter.org/2010/10/18/make-it-concrete-tell-me-a-story-or-give-me-an-example/ Phillip Schlechty on Education Reform Thu, 17 May 2012 12:08:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: C.O. Patterson http://blog.schlechtycenter.org/2010/10/18/make-it-concrete-tell-me-a-story-or-give-me-an-example/comment-page-1/#comment-89 C.O. Patterson Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:42:24 +0000 http://blog.schlechtycenter.org/?p=49#comment-89 Here is a quote that I have found pertinent and useful: Crow and Weasel have traveled together far from their own people and the lands they have known. They have encountered many strange tribes, each with peculiar ways of living, but each noble and kind. In their travels, they have gradually gained wisdom. As they turn homeward, it is late in the year, with winter coming on. They are overtaken by a blizzard, and become lost in the snow. In their peril, they are rescued by Badger, who gives them shelter and food. In return, Badger asks that they tell of their journey, and of what they have seen. Crow and Weasel recount their adventures, and the tales they have heard from those strangers among whom they have passed. Badger is pleased with their telling. "I would ask you to remember only this one thing," said Badger. "The stories people tell have a way of taking care of them. If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where they are needed. Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive. That is why we put these stories in each other's memory. This is how people care for themselves. One day you will be good storytellers. Never forget these obligations." Barry Lopez: Crow and Weasel. North Point Press, San Francisco, 1990. Here is a quote that I have found pertinent and useful:

Crow and Weasel have traveled together far from their own people and the lands they have known. They have encountered many strange tribes, each with peculiar ways of living, but each noble and kind. In their travels, they have gradually gained wisdom. As they turn homeward, it is late in the year, with winter coming on. They are overtaken by a blizzard, and become lost in the snow. In their peril, they are rescued by Badger, who gives them shelter and food. In return, Badger asks that they tell of their journey, and of what they have seen. Crow and Weasel recount their adventures, and the tales they have heard from those strangers among whom they have passed. Badger is pleased with their telling.

“I would ask you to remember only this one thing,” said Badger. “The stories people tell have a way of taking care of them. If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where they are needed. Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive. That is why we put these stories in each other’s memory. This is how people care for themselves. One day you will be good storytellers. Never forget these obligations.”

Barry Lopez: Crow and Weasel.
North Point Press, San Francisco, 1990.

]]> By: Susan (Sue) Colton http://blog.schlechtycenter.org/2010/10/18/make-it-concrete-tell-me-a-story-or-give-me-an-example/comment-page-1/#comment-85 Susan (Sue) Colton Tue, 04 Jan 2011 05:24:56 +0000 http://blog.schlechtycenter.org/?p=49#comment-85 Happy New Year Phil! Well, today Florida inaugurates a new governor, or the appearance of a new one, anyway. This brings me back to one of your stories that I first heard you tell in 1996...regarding the future demise of public education. You painted that picture indelibly on my mind and It was then that I was "hooked" and decided that my the rest of my life's work was to make sure that ending of your story never came true. Since then, I have been leading leaders to create learning organizations within the structures of a very statistical data-driven bureaucratic system. It is the stories along the way...the pictures of practice...that keep us "working on the work". Building relationships, making connections, and being authentic to our beliefs are also very powerful forms of research. Storytelling is full of facts, yet is very much an art. It causes both left and right-brained people to think in new and different ways. If done strategically, it reaches all senses and learning styles. The most important point you make that I believe we miss most often is "knowing your audience". Just as the work we design and create must hook our student audience within the context of the world in which they live, we must also know our ''greater audience'' in order to communicate the importance of public education in their world. Because the world moves so fast with new information technologies and social networks, are the hooks we create to market our work already obsolete and meaningless to those who live and work in our communities? What is relevant today when we say education, freedom and democracy? Happy New Year Phil!
Well, today Florida inaugurates a new governor, or the appearance of a new one, anyway. This brings me back to one of your stories that I first heard you tell in 1996…regarding the future demise of public education. You painted that picture indelibly on my mind and It was then that I was “hooked” and decided that my the rest of my life’s work was to make sure that ending of your story never came true.
Since then, I have been leading leaders to create learning organizations within the structures of a very statistical data-driven bureaucratic system. It is the stories along the way…the pictures of practice…that keep us “working on the work”. Building relationships, making connections, and being authentic to our beliefs are also very powerful forms of research. Storytelling is full of facts, yet is very much an art. It causes both left and right-brained people to think in new and different ways. If done strategically, it reaches all senses and learning styles.
The most important point you make that I believe we miss most often is “knowing your audience”. Just as the work we design and create must hook our student audience within the context of the world in which they live, we must also know our ”greater audience” in order to communicate the importance of public education in their world. Because the world moves so fast with new information technologies and social networks, are the hooks we create to market our work already obsolete and meaningless to those who live and work in our communities? What is relevant today when we say education, freedom and democracy?

]]> By: Phil Schlechty http://blog.schlechtycenter.org/2010/10/18/make-it-concrete-tell-me-a-story-or-give-me-an-example/comment-page-1/#comment-83 Phil Schlechty Wed, 08 Dec 2010 14:47:35 +0000 http://blog.schlechtycenter.org/?p=49#comment-83 Dear Jonathan, I apologize for any offense. If it was at a break I suspect I was responding to the press of time and may have conveyed an impatience that was not intended. At least I hope so because I enjoy a reputation of taking criticism well and following the data where ever it leads--including when it challenges my most fundamental beliefs. I am confident that our encounter is not the one I refer to here. This happened at a cocktail party after I had made the speech I describe. Maybe I am more of an ass than I think I am, but I do apologize to you and hope we can meet sometime to see if I can repair whatever damage I have done. Thanks for bringing me up short. Phil Dear Jonathan,
I apologize for any offense. If it was at a break I suspect I was responding to the press of time and may have conveyed an impatience that was not intended. At least I hope so because I enjoy a reputation of taking criticism well and following the data where ever it leads–including when it challenges my most fundamental beliefs.

I am confident that our encounter is not the one I refer to here. This happened at a cocktail party after I had made the speech I describe. Maybe I am more of an ass than I think I am, but I do apologize to you and hope we can meet sometime to see if I can repair whatever damage I have done.

Thanks for bringing me up short.

Phil

]]> By: Jonathan Slaten http://blog.schlechtycenter.org/2010/10/18/make-it-concrete-tell-me-a-story-or-give-me-an-example/comment-page-1/#comment-82 Jonathan Slaten Tue, 07 Dec 2010 21:17:27 +0000 http://blog.schlechtycenter.org/?p=49#comment-82 Dr. Schlechty, This story sounds stangely familiar to an enounter that I had with you several years ago. During a break at a conference I came and spoke to you about research that contradicted something that you said. I felt that I made the comment with respect. You responded in much the same fashion as to the young man in your story. You made it clear that you did not want to discuss the issue. I don't disagree with your point in telling stories; however, maybe you should be willing to discuss different points of view. That is the hallmark of a good researcher. Dr. Schlechty,
This story sounds stangely familiar to an enounter that I had with you several years ago. During a break at a conference I came and spoke to you about research that contradicted something that you said. I felt that I made the comment with respect. You responded in much the same fashion as to the young man in your story. You made it clear that you did not want to discuss the issue.
I don’t disagree with your point in telling stories; however, maybe you should be willing to discuss different points of view. That is the hallmark of a good researcher.

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