BFTP: 30 things

A principal's riddle: What's the difference between a teacher and a puppy? The puppy STOPS whining when you let it in the door.

Tony Schwartz in 30 Things We Need - and 30 Things We Don't (Harvard Business Review, March 8, 2011 - via For Whom the Bell Told than MA Bell!) composes the following list:

WE NEED LESS:	WE NEED MORE:
Information	Wisdom
Shallow billionaires	Passionate teachers
Self-promotion	Self-awareness
Multitasking	Control of our attention
Inequality	Fairness
Sugar	Lean protein
Action	Reflection
Super sizes	Smaller portions
Private jets	High-speed trains
Calculation	Passion
Experts	Learners
Blaming	Taking responsibility
Judgment	Discernment
Texting	Reading
Anger	Empathy
Output	Depth
Constructive criticism	Thank-you notes
Possessions	Meaning
Righteousness	Doing the right thing
Answers	Curiosity
Long hours	Longer sleep
Complaining	Gratitude
Sitting	Moving
Selling	Authenticity
Cynicism	Realistic optimism
Self-indulgence	Self-control
Speed	Renewal
Emails	Conversations
Winning	Win-win
Immediate gratification	Sacrifice

What would be on your We Need Less / We Need More libraries and education list? Here are a few of mine:

We Need Less / We Need More

1. Testing / Context
2. Right answers / Good questions
3. Attention on teachers / Attention on students
4. New technology / Well-used technology
5. Hardware / Staff development
6. Whining / Problem-solving
7. Entertainment / Engagement
8. Whole group / Individualization
9. Reading-listening / Making - doing
10. Focus on failures / Focus on successes
11. Basal readers / Children's-YA lit
12. Required classes / Electives
13. Pundits / Research
14. Helicopter parents / Involved parents
15. Disengaged parents / Involved parents
16. Data / Diagnostics
17. Leaders / Managers
18. Filtering on the network / Filtering between the ears
19. 21st Century Skills / Skills
20. Memorization of facts / Development of dispositions
21. Textbooks / Bandwidth
22. Worksheets / Games
23. Restrictions / Responsibility
24. Lists / Essays
25. Labs / Personal student devices
26. Standards / Relevance
27. Competition / Social learning
28. Evaluations / Encouragement
29. FRP Lunches / Living wage jobs
30. Polarization / Balance

 Your turn.

Original post March 13, 2011.

Comments

[Ann M Morgester]

for libraries:

keeping "in case" / weeding
"good literature" / engaging literature
outdated inaccurate books / engaging accurate books
single access points / multiple access points
silos / communities
dewey / kid friendly access

[Doug Johnson]

Great additions to the list. Thanks, Ann.

Doug​

[Scott Lieberman]

Great post!
In the classroom:

quiet students / engaging conversations
note taking / collaborative learning
demonstations / exploratory learning & guided practice
discipline / logical consequences

[Doug Johnson]

Thanks, Scott. I appreciate your additions.

Doug