Scott McLeod at Dangerously Irrelevant is once again holding a blogging Leadership Day tomorrow, in which he asks folks to blog about advice or help for administrators.
This year, I decided to write a song that tries to capture the idea of administrators and leaders getting out of their offices and into the classrooms to talk to students about what they do and what they need and what they hope for. Also, I want to say again that technology should be integrated into the curriculum, not the old model of “drop my kids off into the lab for a planning period” kind of integration.
Anyway:
You Gotta Listen to the Kids
(by Kevin Hodgson)
Here’s what I fear
Tech won’t disappear
It’ll still be apart from the wholeWhen everybody knows
that kids will grow
when they connect their school to home‘Cause kids are gonna text
explore what’s next
but they need us as a helping handSo listen up, leaders:
we need you as believers
and support us any way you canYou gotta listen to the kids
’cause they’re gonna show you the way
You gotta listen to the kids
they’ve got some things to sayNone of us knows
where this all goes
so the tool doesn’t matter muchBut if they can explore
it’ll open up doors
and the world will be right in touchYou gotta listen to the kids
’cause they’re gonna show us the way
You gotta listen to the kids
’cause they’ve got some things to say
Peace (in the song),
Kevin
PS — the song is also at this link.
This is a great post Kevin, you always offer an original slant on things!
I gave similar advice to leaders but towards their teachers. Slow down and listen.
Both posts remind me of something I keep trying to remember as I make my way through life – seek to understand before being understood. In order to do that, I need to slow down and listen.
Thanks for the song.
Tracy
Thanks
I appreciate the comments.
I think the more angles we find, the better off we are.
Kevin
This song is awesome. How long did it take you to come up with it?
A growing theme of this leadership meme seems to be engagement. It sounds like bloggers would like to see top-down decision-making take a back seat.
Hi Joel
I wrote it quick and recorded it even quicker. I had an idea of what I wanted and just went kind of raw.
Thanks for the comment
Kevin
Creative and inspiring song!! I think the line “you gotta listen to the kids cause they’re gonna show you the way” says it all.
Hi Kevin
http://teachmeet.pbworks.com/LeadMeet09
Thanks for permission to use this in our unconference next week!
Con
Great song – inspired us at leadmeet – we all do need to listen and learn from kids. Thanks for sharing it.