What do School Leaders read to keep relevant?
What do School leaders read in their spare time? Well currently I am enjoying the ideas in Grant Lichtman’s book “Thrive: How schools will win the education Revolution”. In it, Lichtman argues that the current education system is outdated and is no longer serving the needs of students in a rapidly changing world. He proposes a new model of education that focuses on learning, creativity, and innovation, and encourages schools to become centres of community engagement and social change.
Lichtman’s main argument is that schools must shift from a traditional “industrial age” model of education, which emphasises rote memorisation and standardised testing, to a more personalised and student-centred approach. He believes that students need to be empowered to take ownership of their learning and to develop the skills and competencies that will enable them to thrive in a VUCA world (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity).
To achieve this transformation, Lichtman proposes a new framework for education that he calls the “Six C’s”: Creativity, Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, Character, and Citizenship. These skills, he argues, are essential for success in the 21st century and should be at the centre of all educational programmes. Lichtman also argues that schools must become more agile and adaptive to meet the needs of students in a rapidly changing world. He emphasises the importance of innovation and experimentation, and encourages schools to embrace a culture of continuous improvement. He believes that schools must be willing to take risks and to learn from failure, in order to create a more dynamic and responsive learning environment.
Two key themes of the book are the importance of community engagement in education and the need for schools to embrace diversity and inclusivity. Lichtman argues that schools must become more culturally responsive and must work to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students. He emphasises the importance of understanding and appreciating differences in race, culture, gender, and sexuality, and encourages schools to promote empathy and understanding.
There are schools that have already taken these ideas on board, and where communities have embraced new ways of learning for their children. An example of this is Think Global School, a travelling High School where students live in 4 different countries each year, and the K-8 Design39Campus in SanDiego which purports to work “As a collaborative community, we nurture creative confidence, practice design thinking, learn through inquiry, connect globally, use technology and real world tools, and promote the courage and growth mindset necessary to change the world.”
So where does this all fit in with the future of FIS, a school already steeped in 60 years of history. What does the next 10 years bring, and how soon will it be before the ideas of Grant Lichtman become a reality at our school? The future is bright indeed, and change in education is becoming increasingly inevitable.
