Video Review Form
MAS 5010 - Foundations of Educational Administration
Name: Tim Coleman
Video Title: The Asoh Defense
Date: September 16, 2009
Key Points of the Video:
- It is
good to make mistakes because we can learn from them and become better people.
- Mistakes
are often seen as weaknesses, bad form, or career suicide. With this
perspective we are then encouraged to lie, not take risks, or pursue
innovation.
- We
build elaborate defenses to pass blame onto others and absolve ourselves.
- Forgiving,
as a trait, is offered in personal life but not in professional life. In
the professional world there is a battle between forgiveness and
accountability/responsibility.
- Truth
is a rare commodity, when given it is usually watered down or filled with
half-truths.
- Responsibility
is best when taken openly. Humor solves conflicts and spurs production.
Application/Relevance/Reflection:
- Although
we consistently admonish students to be truthful and be willing to revise
their beliefs, attitudes, and behavior, these very traits are often
frowned upon in the adult world. Humbling oneself in front of a child and
admitting your own mistakes and taking pains to point out your own
failings is a powerful way to invite a child to do the same with
themselves.
- In a
business, making mistakes can often be detrimental to the bottom line, to
making money. But in a school environment, where the very purpose is to
shape a maturing human, mistakes are the opportunities to change that
which will repeatedly fail or create additional problems for the child
throughout their lives.
- The
relationships within a school community are paramount, long hours of work,
high expectations, and a realization that the home life of the children
dictates much of what they can and cannot do in your classroom. Within
this dynamic the relationships among the staff, students, and principal
must be open and truthful. If one person thinks that you don't care for
them or you're not willing to own up to your own mistakes then they will
be extremely hesitant to share their own struggles.
- The
most valuable part of the video was on forgiving. When someone makes a
mistake that impacts you or you feel slighted then it becomes extremely
difficult to carry on as if nothing has happened. People usually resort to
putting on a fake face of forgiveness when actually underneath they still
seethe. To reach real forgiveness would seem to be a rare thing when
dealing with people who you've had conflict with or find yourself at odds
with.
- Being
one who uses humor often, I found it refreshing that the video highlighted
the use of humor to solve conflicts, engage people, and get everyone back
on track after a mistake has been made. I think usually humor is perceived
as a trait of the immature or unintelligent. I know in my school I may be
seen as immature but in the day to day world of education I find I have
far fewer conflicts with other staff members than most others and I can
easily engage even the most difficult child when other teachers fail.
