Comments on: KFC and McDonalds Reinvent Themselves – Why Not Our Schools?

By: Wesley Fryer

Wesley Fryer — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:41:46 +0000

Great post Tim– I added your comments to your post, and am also pasting them below:

Tim:

I like your extensions on this idea quite a bit… certainly the idea of focusing on the design of schools, so they can become learning spaces where students voluntarily want to be and want to stay, is key. I’m glad to hear the reference to Prakash Nair, also– I’d like to see a lot more focus in school reform discussions about design.

It would be interesting to see a study of revenue figures, looking at how McDonalds has done since they have embarked on these redesigns. I wonder if those figures are available to shareholders?

The thing that continues to strike me about this sort of comparison (and as I said in the original post, I am NOT asserting that schools ARE businesses and that students are “just” a product) is how some businesses are continually innovating, trying out new ideas. They are not complacent to simply produce things the same old way, and focus on the same old results. We were at Krispy Kreme this week and I was disappointed they are no longer selling kolaches (sausage and bread items)– I guess that “experiment” just lasted a few months. I agree with your point that businesses have a narrower constituency than schools, and that makes it different… it’s true that we shouldn’t just try every new idea as an experiment in schools either, if things aren’t shown to “work” and be valid… but at the same time, often I think we pace of change is too slow in schools to try innovative things, and the concept that “we have to wait for a longitudinal, quasi-scientific study” can delay a good idea beyond the time when it could benefit kids who are in schools NOW.

By: Tim Holt

Tim Holt — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:07:49 +0000

Wes, here is my response to this article:

http://snipurl.com/trj3r

I look forward to your response.

By: Rona

Rona — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:26:38 +0000

Wouldn't it be great to see more flexibility in schools. I agree that the pressure of the market is a part of it, but I think parents could apply that pressure. I'm trying to get concerned teachers and parents to pay attention to what schools are using to disinfect for H1N1. Many don’t realize that cleaning supplies are often more hazardous than the H1N1virus itself. Even bleach, because it has to be diluted properly (and usually isn't) can be dangerous when incorrectly used. Here are some resources to help parents determine what their schools are using, and what they should be using: H1N1 in Schools and Environmental Working Group Report on Schools

By: Wesley Fryer

Wesley Fryer — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:44:43 +0000

Leonard: I agree we need models and examples and not just whining or dreaming. I'm currently working with others here in Oklahoma on a Mobile Learning Collaborative which I hope will bear fruit in this regard. My last sentence in this post was more a reflection of my own frustration at times with the pace of educational change (generally glacial) rather than my own ability to articulate, share and amplify examples of best practice and innovation in education. The New Tech Network is one group that is seeking to reinvent schools with project-based approaches to learning and digital tools. Chris Walsh, who presented this week virtually for K-12 Online ("Moogpal in Action") has told me a little about their schools and philosophy. Certainly many of the presenters in our "leading the change" strand of K12Online09 have excellent and practical suggestions for how to blaze the learning transformation trail. I have not viewed all of these yet but plan to in upcoming weeks.

By: Tim Holt

Tim Holt — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:41:09 +0000

Nice observation Wes.
Of course, the cost of remodelling a 1000 sq ft KFC is nothing compared to say a 50,000 sq ft high school. And, the KFC franchisee can run down to the bank and tell the banker that he wants a loan for $1,000,000.

You are right about economics. It is always a money issue. And charter schools, I think, can be more nimble because there typically is only one or two of them, and the population is small. If a charter school screws up, 200 kids are affected. If a school district screws up, then 50,000 kids are affected.
It is always a numbers game.

By: Chan

Chan — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:19:26 +0000

In business you must change or die but in bureaucracies it is change and die. What bigger bureaucracy than a public school system. One of the issues is that the structure of schools comingles the power of the bureaucrats and the leadership.

In Wikipedia one of the criticisms of the structure of a bureaucracy is “Rigidity and inertia of procedures, making decision-making slow or even impossible when facing some unusual case, and similarly delaying change, evolution and adaptation of old procedures to new circumstance” I’m betting change in educational policy would qualify for a “new circumstance”

To change this schools need strong leadership, preferably leadership that does not arise from the bureaucracy of schools.

By: Leonard Klein

Leonard Klein — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:23:48 +0000

I have read lots of folks who want to have change, but no one is putting any ideas forward as to what that change should be. Folks say that classrooms have not changed, but then do not say what they want to see. How about some ideas that could be discussed rather than saying “things should change but I don’t know what”.

Len