Subject: SD and critical pedagogy

Posted by Della Robinson on 10/26/2008
In Reply To:SD and critical pedagogy Posted by Richard Turnock on 10/23/2008

Message:

I would like to comment on the point Richard made about sustaining ST in the K-12 classroom. ST can be sustained to a lesser or greater extent in the K12 classroom as long as the teacher continues to develop an understanding of the tools of systems thinking and applies them within the curriculum. What is very helpful is this list serv, individuals, such as Jeff Potash and John Heinbokel, the K12 ST Conference, the literature, such as The Shape of Change, and David Hutchens work about the Neanderthal's. I just read it and for the first time I had a much better grasp of the Ladder of Inference. I worked with two other teachers this summer on a lesson in which we incorporated the Ladder of Inference.
What I would like to address is the question of sustainability with the K12 school system. The time is ripe. The school literature talks about change, learning organizations, developing the capacity for thinking and solving problems. What is missing is a strategy for induction and ongoing curriculum development. I strongly believe that the ST community and the Schlechty Center for School Reform are made for each other. This center has got it right when it comes to sustaining reform actions in the school. I Carbon Copied Sandy Jenkins, who is an associate with the Schlechty Center, and Dina Wilson, who is our school prinicpal.
Della Robertson
Norwalk High School in Norwalk, CA