Being an avid anti-luddite and therefore embracing new technology on every level possible, my profession, however, borders on the archaic, admittedly charming, world of an age long gone. Not that this something negative necessarily for in fact I do miss certain practices of the past. I miss having black and white television, 3 channels, no remote, physical encyclopedias on the shelves, cars with steel dashboards (that is another story and the reason I have a scar above my eye!), record players, dial phones on the wall, hymnals, coffee percolating, maps in hand, and a slide rule for calculations. I also miss being "pill-free" but that is again a separate topic!
But the world marches forward and the wind blows freely in spite of our efforts to control it. Harnessing the wind and using it positively is one thing but stopping it is another. Progress cannot be and should not be inhibited, particularly by our individual preferences for that which exists in a previous time. Not that there is anything wrong at all about preferences. After all there is no doubt that preferences shape our personal existence. A person is certainly welcome to prefer riding a horse or studying a Rubens or balancing a checkbook or taking a bath once a month (a practice from earlier centuries), but to thwart the preferences of others through active campaigns against progress is patently unfair and in fact a worthless endeavor.
I will say, however, that in a way I appreciate the Luddites of the world, people who hold on to a past practice or a perceived simpler existence. People who remain suspicious of our technologically driven world. Those are the ones who keep some of us in check and prevent us from going all in on technology. Sometimes I do appreciate someone tapping the brakes and reminding me of the very few benefits of the printed page or the inevitable "lecture" containing facts (facts that incidentally are available with a couple of clicks of a mouse). I always smile at the phrase "the good old days" when life was better without all the technology surrounding us.
Yet I read an article asking the question, do we really want to return to a time without a cell phone or unlimited television stations or computers? Do we really want to make coffee over an outdoor grill everyday? http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/05/andrew-ohagan-technology/. We may have become dependent on the cell phone but, frankly, I am glad and do not wish to return to a previous time without it. Communication is instant and fun. Banking and money management are more accurate. Writing is definitely easier as is shopping. Finding places to eat or even vacation is a snap and even knowing the best roads to avoid traffic problems is amazing.
As Gus McRae says in Lonesome Dove, "yesterday's gone and you can't get it back." While you can learn from yesterday, you cannot return to it, nor would you really want to do so. It is time to be current, contemporary, vital, and progressive. Admittedly this is at times a difficult requirement. I recall teaching a student and I told her she needed to "woodshed" a passage. But as I thought through my suggestion, it occurred to me that she might not have fully understand what I said. I looked at her and asked, "Do you know what woodshed means?" She said no. I then proceeded to explain the history of the woodshed and how it has come to mean hard work or improvement. My words, however, sounded hollow and old-fashioned, even to me. How often do we use archaic language that has little to no meaning to other people? How often do we invoke yesterday to explain today?
I believe we tend to live in the past, reflecting on past mistakes, past successes, old challenges, hurts, joys, and preferences. We carry our history on our sleeve and engage it whenever we don't fully understand the present or exactly how to deal with the current situation. For many that means fighting for the "old days", whereas for others it means refusing to accept a new way. While this is not a problem necessarily by itself, it becomes troublesome when the lack of individual progress impacts the collective need to press forward.
In a way, however, I don't believe it matters in the end for time and progress will happen regardless of what we think or prefer. Entrepreneurship in action mitigates the efforts of the naysayers and those marching forward will eventually crush the efforts of those who only live for yesterday.
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Administrative Yips
A consequence of the current cultural clash in higher education and the arts is the dreaded disease known as the administrative yips. In sports an athlete who develops the yips loses some physiological skill that is necessary for success. This could be a baseball player who loses the ability to follow through on a throw or to move to his right or make a level swing. In bowling it could be someone who suddenly cannot take the proper number of steps. When a player gets the yips, he or she can no longer function the same way and either must conquer the weakness, find another way, or do something different outside of the discipline. Often the yips occur in sports following an injury or a mistake on the field as well as having to face an formidable enemy of some kind or other.
Administrative yips manifest in a lack of confidence in making sound decisions. In the current climate of concern over economics, quantity, quality, technology, personnel, progress, integrity, legalities, privacy, classicism, modernism, and the unending responsibility to lead positively, it is no wonder that administrators often lose confidence and wonder which way to turn. All it takes are two concurrent decisions that made a negative impact and suddenly the yips set in and the next decision feels uncertain. This is followed by insecurity, doubt, and a kind of fear of the unknown, leading to depression, confusion, and finally administrative impotence. Administrators floundering in a quagmire of doubt may give up or emphasize that which does not matter, giving themselves authority over trivial, inconsequential concerns that in analysis are banal without substance.
I recall at a previous position being concerned over the lack of students' ability to articulate a musical thought or idea. Yet I was also keenly aware of how requiring all graduating seniors to present a public speech on a musical topic for all the faculty was difficult for scheduling and for convenience of faculty at an involved time of year. I further hoped for a way to document and assess the content and delivery of the 5 minute speech. After thinking through these issues, I had the brilliant idea for students to prepare their speech and deliver it to a video that would then be distributed to all the faculty. The faculty would then watch the video at their own convenience and assign an objective grade. We then had a record of the speech, faculty had time to assess it, and students did not feel the pressure of delivery at a public event. It all made sense but was a dismal flop. Faculty did not watch it, students did a poor job, and nobody had respect for the process. Why?
One problem was that I did not get faculty buy-in for the process. Another problem was that the faculty did not live in a digital world and preferred face-to-face live teaching. My efforts to help their own schedule did not resonate with them because they did not believe in the value of the process nor in the system. To their way of thinking, if something is worth doing, it must be worth doing face to face in real time. But this little situation that happened many years ago, gave me the administrative yips. After all, if you feed a dog and he bites you, you may not be as anxious to feed him again!
Now many years later, I am suffering again from the yips due to the complexity of the semester, the frequent questioning of my decisions, and the many things out of my control. Like Steve Sax who could no longer throw the ball to first base (he did overcome the problem eventually), I cannot seem to make my decisions reach the goal. Maybe it is a slump of some kind or maybe just a bump in the road, but it feels like the yips. Objectively I do know that most administrators suffer from the yips occasionally and I also know that not all decisions will be the right ones, but emotionally I do not like to lose. And maybe, just maybe, that is the crux of the yips...pride and bruised ego.
I suppose admitting there is a problem is the first step toward a cure and I have taken that first step. Now for the next step...seek Godly wisdom, be decisive, trust my instincts, and move forward positively. A few more days of the yips and I am ready to get in the game again! Here is a question for anyone reading. Have you ever had the yips?
Administrative yips manifest in a lack of confidence in making sound decisions. In the current climate of concern over economics, quantity, quality, technology, personnel, progress, integrity, legalities, privacy, classicism, modernism, and the unending responsibility to lead positively, it is no wonder that administrators often lose confidence and wonder which way to turn. All it takes are two concurrent decisions that made a negative impact and suddenly the yips set in and the next decision feels uncertain. This is followed by insecurity, doubt, and a kind of fear of the unknown, leading to depression, confusion, and finally administrative impotence. Administrators floundering in a quagmire of doubt may give up or emphasize that which does not matter, giving themselves authority over trivial, inconsequential concerns that in analysis are banal without substance.
I recall at a previous position being concerned over the lack of students' ability to articulate a musical thought or idea. Yet I was also keenly aware of how requiring all graduating seniors to present a public speech on a musical topic for all the faculty was difficult for scheduling and for convenience of faculty at an involved time of year. I further hoped for a way to document and assess the content and delivery of the 5 minute speech. After thinking through these issues, I had the brilliant idea for students to prepare their speech and deliver it to a video that would then be distributed to all the faculty. The faculty would then watch the video at their own convenience and assign an objective grade. We then had a record of the speech, faculty had time to assess it, and students did not feel the pressure of delivery at a public event. It all made sense but was a dismal flop. Faculty did not watch it, students did a poor job, and nobody had respect for the process. Why?
One problem was that I did not get faculty buy-in for the process. Another problem was that the faculty did not live in a digital world and preferred face-to-face live teaching. My efforts to help their own schedule did not resonate with them because they did not believe in the value of the process nor in the system. To their way of thinking, if something is worth doing, it must be worth doing face to face in real time. But this little situation that happened many years ago, gave me the administrative yips. After all, if you feed a dog and he bites you, you may not be as anxious to feed him again!
Now many years later, I am suffering again from the yips due to the complexity of the semester, the frequent questioning of my decisions, and the many things out of my control. Like Steve Sax who could no longer throw the ball to first base (he did overcome the problem eventually), I cannot seem to make my decisions reach the goal. Maybe it is a slump of some kind or maybe just a bump in the road, but it feels like the yips. Objectively I do know that most administrators suffer from the yips occasionally and I also know that not all decisions will be the right ones, but emotionally I do not like to lose. And maybe, just maybe, that is the crux of the yips...pride and bruised ego.
I suppose admitting there is a problem is the first step toward a cure and I have taken that first step. Now for the next step...seek Godly wisdom, be decisive, trust my instincts, and move forward positively. A few more days of the yips and I am ready to get in the game again! Here is a question for anyone reading. Have you ever had the yips?
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Packages, Music, and Men
Received a package from Amazon yesterday and after opening the box, realized I had more to open. Being a big fan of Amazon and championing their system at every opportunity, I was excited to read the words "frustration-free packaging." My frustration over the packaging we deal with in our society is often at a high point as I open paper towels, socks, medicine bottles, a new shirt, yogurt, and virtually everything one purchases at a store. Particularly with a thumb that no longer functions as well, opening anything is a significant challenge usually requiring a careful use of scissors so as not to damage the product. The time wasted opening items must equal at least a month over a lifetime!
But much to my excitement, the package claimed it was "frustration-free packaging." Diving in with a smile on my face and joy in my countenance, I began opening the package. I'll give them this, it did not require scissors and it was much less frustrating than packages one gets at Walmart or Dillards. But it was not frustration free and I once again felt the pain of cardboard as I push and pulled to get the items out. I suppose, however, that true frustration-free packaging to me would mean someone walked up to me and handed me the item which I would then begin using without any preparation. I guess I will accept the idea of "less frustration" in the packaging of Amazon products. After all, it is still a terrific company.
Studying the life of Stevie Wonder and thinking through musicians from the past and present, I am a little concerned about two trends in music training. One is that fewer students are taking piano lessons for any extended time and two is that fewer boys seem to be involved in music apart from playing in band, and then sometimes for only a short time. I have no empirical evidence to support this claim and would like to be proven wrong, but it does seem to be true by all appearances. When did music become a "feminine" activity? Is this true for all the arts? Males do sports and girls do arts? This makes no sense to me and makes me wonder if our "football" based culture is somehow contributing to this absurd stereo-type. Yet, even as I type, I have to believe it is a temporary cultural change that will not be sustained. Art belongs to everyone, male and female, just as sports also belongs to the masses.
Meanwhile to all those artists out there, whether that be in visual art, music, or theatre, I urge you to continue your journey. There is a place for you in the world but be mindful of shifting attitudes toward the arts. They are valued but maybe not in the same way they once were. The wise and nimble artist stays current with trends while seeking after integrity in all things. Mostly, let's move away from any kind of notion that the arts are a "feminine" endeavor. What an absurd idea.
But much to my excitement, the package claimed it was "frustration-free packaging." Diving in with a smile on my face and joy in my countenance, I began opening the package. I'll give them this, it did not require scissors and it was much less frustrating than packages one gets at Walmart or Dillards. But it was not frustration free and I once again felt the pain of cardboard as I push and pulled to get the items out. I suppose, however, that true frustration-free packaging to me would mean someone walked up to me and handed me the item which I would then begin using without any preparation. I guess I will accept the idea of "less frustration" in the packaging of Amazon products. After all, it is still a terrific company.
Studying the life of Stevie Wonder and thinking through musicians from the past and present, I am a little concerned about two trends in music training. One is that fewer students are taking piano lessons for any extended time and two is that fewer boys seem to be involved in music apart from playing in band, and then sometimes for only a short time. I have no empirical evidence to support this claim and would like to be proven wrong, but it does seem to be true by all appearances. When did music become a "feminine" activity? Is this true for all the arts? Males do sports and girls do arts? This makes no sense to me and makes me wonder if our "football" based culture is somehow contributing to this absurd stereo-type. Yet, even as I type, I have to believe it is a temporary cultural change that will not be sustained. Art belongs to everyone, male and female, just as sports also belongs to the masses.
Meanwhile to all those artists out there, whether that be in visual art, music, or theatre, I urge you to continue your journey. There is a place for you in the world but be mindful of shifting attitudes toward the arts. They are valued but maybe not in the same way they once were. The wise and nimble artist stays current with trends while seeking after integrity in all things. Mostly, let's move away from any kind of notion that the arts are a "feminine" endeavor. What an absurd idea.
City vs. Country
Having lived for 12 years in the country on 13 acres but now living in the city surrounded by houses on either side, I can find merits for both. In favor of city living: mail service and trash service. We can now walk down a short footpath to our nice mailbox and pickup the mail each day. This beats having to go into town to the post office and retrieve the weeks mail from the box. Regarding trash service, it certainly became a chore to haul the trash to the landfill or to once a week roll the large green receptacle down the long driveway to the street. We now have a very short trip from the house to the street where it is picked up twice a week. Tax dollars working for the residents! But, wait, tax dollars...yikes. We are paying nearly three times as much for taxes as we ever did in the country.
We can now get to the stores, the restaurants, the mall, the theatre and work in short order without much preparation and without undue and complicated scheduling. When we want to see friends or have a social outing, a call or two and we are together enjoying a meal, a concert, or a movie. Great fun and certainly "modern" in our progressive society. Church is close, parks are near, the airport is 5 minutes away, museums, galleries, and there is no denying the value of having a doctor and hospital nearby. All these and more make city life the preferred residential choice.
In the country we had skunks, snakes, raccoons, rodents, wild cats, wild dogs, coyotes, drought, dust, scorpions, wasps, and the ever present fear of wildfires. I kept a gun and knife handy and never stopped trying to get rid of cactus and mesquites that constantly threatened to take over what little grass struggled to live in our front and back yards.
So why in the world do I miss country living? The space, the sky, the quiet, the solitude, the rugged individualism, the removal from society, all these and more contribute to my slight discontent with city living. Living in the country, I never felt the desire to get away or take a vacation, but in the city, the idea of going somewhere else is compelling. Home, of course, is where the heart finds joy, but in the city, your home is a stone's toss to your neighbor's home. In the country, feel free to throw a stone far away, there are no neighbors who can see nor care. In the city, the neighbors may not know you but they are curious and are constantly watching your yard for a hint of neglect or some kind of nefarious activity.
Yes, I miss the solitude and the space. Conveniences aside, the magic and charm of the country is still in me, and while I love my home, perhaps one day I'll live in a place that contains the best of both worlds...a home in the country with the city nearby.
We can now get to the stores, the restaurants, the mall, the theatre and work in short order without much preparation and without undue and complicated scheduling. When we want to see friends or have a social outing, a call or two and we are together enjoying a meal, a concert, or a movie. Great fun and certainly "modern" in our progressive society. Church is close, parks are near, the airport is 5 minutes away, museums, galleries, and there is no denying the value of having a doctor and hospital nearby. All these and more make city life the preferred residential choice.
In the country we had skunks, snakes, raccoons, rodents, wild cats, wild dogs, coyotes, drought, dust, scorpions, wasps, and the ever present fear of wildfires. I kept a gun and knife handy and never stopped trying to get rid of cactus and mesquites that constantly threatened to take over what little grass struggled to live in our front and back yards.
So why in the world do I miss country living? The space, the sky, the quiet, the solitude, the rugged individualism, the removal from society, all these and more contribute to my slight discontent with city living. Living in the country, I never felt the desire to get away or take a vacation, but in the city, the idea of going somewhere else is compelling. Home, of course, is where the heart finds joy, but in the city, your home is a stone's toss to your neighbor's home. In the country, feel free to throw a stone far away, there are no neighbors who can see nor care. In the city, the neighbors may not know you but they are curious and are constantly watching your yard for a hint of neglect or some kind of nefarious activity.
Yes, I miss the solitude and the space. Conveniences aside, the magic and charm of the country is still in me, and while I love my home, perhaps one day I'll live in a place that contains the best of both worlds...a home in the country with the city nearby.
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