The Fundamental Underlying Operating Principle

During the session last week I asked the question, “what is the fundamental underlying operating principle in education?” The participants suggested a number of ‘right answers’ ranging from: ‘everyone can learn’ to ‘creating contributing members to society’.

In my experience public education as we know it has as a fundamental underlying operating principle – control and compliance.

Educational institutions are modeled after good management theory – from the late 1800s – early 1900s. The hierarchy is based on a model of control and compliance. Now, there is nothing wrong with that model. However, the world has changed in 100+ years and as all organizations that still cling to this operating model are finding out they are having challenges maintaining control and compliance in an information age and a world of rapid change (there is more to say about this but that will come later).

So, how can people that are used to, and comfortable with, control and compliance design and develop models that are more suitable for a different climate?

Rethinking the College Experience