Subject: Cognitive Maturity

Posted by Ron Miller on 11/16/2007
In Reply To:Cognitive Maturity Posted by Alice Squires on 11/16/2007

Message:

Alice-



I recently retired from guidance counseling (although I just agreed to fill in for a counselor on maternity leave!) and I’m glad someone is looking into systems dynamics in schools. As you may already know it’s a quagmire.



Early in my career I was exposed to systems thinking and tried a couple of experiments. At that time we thought that if everything was really connected to everything then a small change in the environment would lead to change everywhere. We had a teacher’s room (elementary school) where the most senior teacher sat in a certain (only) overstuffed chair. There was also chaos during lunch in the cafeteria. So, one day I sat in his chair. The cafeteria calmed down. And, as what happens in most educational settings, we weren’t able to follow up, do proper checks and balances, proper research because “we’re too busy beating off the alligators and don’t have time to drain the swamp.” Anyway, over the years it been clear to many of us that the “systems” we work in e/affects everything within (behavior, health, achievement, etc.) that environment.



There are no “systems instructors” at the K-12 level that I’m aware of, only a bunch of systems educators, playing and using the system to help kids.



Best wishes on your research.



Peace,

-Ron

Follow Ups:

Cognitive Maturity - Alice Squires 11/16/2007 
Definition of System Thinking - Jack Harich 11/16/2007
Definition of System Thinking - Roy Greenhalgh 11/16/2007
Definition of System Thinking - Jack Harich 11/16/2007
Definition of System Thinking - Prof. Dr. Niall Palfreyman 11/20/2007
Definition of System Thinking - Alice Squires 11/16/2007
Definition of System Thinking - Jack Harich 11/16/2007