this was originally posted on October 20, 2005 in my blog, Schooling ≠ Education
During the session last week I asked the question, “what is the fundamental underlying operating principle in education?” The participants suggested a number of ‘right answers’ ranging from: ‘everyone can learn’ to ‘creating contributing members to society’.
In my experience public education as we know it has as a fundamental underlying operating principle – control and compliance.
Educational institutions are modeled after good management theory – from the late 1800s – early 1900s. The hierarchy is based on a model of control and compliance. Now, there is nothing wrong with that model. However, the world has changed in 100+ years and as all organizations that still cling to this operating model are finding out they are having challenges maintaining control and compliance in an information age and a world of rapid change (there is more to say about this but that will come later).
So, how can people that are used to, and comfortable with, control and compliance design and develop models that are more suitable for a different climate?
July 11, 2024 – this question still holds true. The fundamental operating principle underlying the structure of schools is command and control. This structure is inadequate in a world of accelerating change. How would someone with a control and compliance mindset be able to design an organization capable of rapidly adapting to new conditions like the environment we find ourselves in today?
There are a host of issues facing schools today that will challenge the compliance and control structure. A few of these are:
- cell phones
- social media
- generative AI
- extended reality (augmented reality, virtual reality, mixed reality)
- Quantum Computing
- Nanotechnology
- Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering
- Robotics and Automation
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- 5G and Advanced Networking
- Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies
- 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing
- Brain/computer interfaces
Any of these technologies alone are challenging traditional organizational structures and management models but in combination the level of complexity increases dramatically. New organizational models will be (are) required to thrive in that kind of environment.
