The Education Industry Needs to Evolve

Education is the one industry that touches all other industries. This can be said because every profession, skill, etc., needs teachers.

Like every industry, education has its ups and downs, and the pattern does not necessarily fall under traditional business downturns; in fact, when the market is down, people often go back to school.

Traditional educational institutions often like to consider themselves bastions of free thinking and the incubators of new ideas. However, as someone who has worked in the industry for a while now, I need to point out that educators hate change! Curriculum changes are often done out of shear necessity and not proactively. Leadership changes (especially if the person comes from the outside) are looked on with suspicion. The “old boys” network still rules who gets hired, fired, and what gets swept under the rug to avoid scandal. Educators are often among the most indiscreet people, the rumor mills are terrible, despite FERPA!

The educational needs of citizens have also changed. People must work and still need access to education for work promotions or job prospects. Why then are so many schools still resistant to adding online technology to their repertoire?

The sad part is that needed change is often resisted not because of operational capabilities, but because of internal culture and traditions.

EDUCATORS WE CAN AND NEED TO DO BETTER!

How can we teach change leadership when we refuse to apply those principles to ourselves? How can we teach human resources when our own HR departments do not apply HR principles? How can we teach finance and accounting, yet a school is going bankrupt because of mismanagement? How can we teach history, sociology, and cultural anthropology when our campuses are ripe with bigotry, sexism, misogyny, and yes racism?

In order for schools to survive this rapidly changing playing field, real change is needed, not just lip service, not just a coat of new paint. This topic is almost a cliché, yet, the discussion is need of constant renewal!

Look inside yourselves, look inside your institutions, and ask yourselves: are you practicing what you are preaching? Are you ready to evolve?

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Sociopaths do walk among us

Sociopath: “a person with a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme antisocial attitudes and behavior and a lack of conscience”.

How to Spot a Sociopath: https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201305/how-spot-sociopath

Sometimes the simplest explanation is the one that is real, and too often we human beings are good at making excuses for other peoples’ bad behavior.

Sociopaths are real, they might not even recognize (or care) what they are, and in this day of social media, we seem to be letting them into our lives all the more rapidly.

Do not give up on people, but it is ok to take your time before letting someone into your life.

Slow down! Thoughts from an educator

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

U.S.A is still a young country

Jut a reminder that the U.S. is still a very young country, and we all know young people make mistakes. If you don't believe me, may I remind you that there are still some children whose parents fought in the civil war 150 years ago, STILL ALIVE!

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/…/141111-veterans-day-…/

There are still children whose PARENTS were slaves still walking this country!
https://www.currentaffairs.org/20…/…/slavery-was-very-recent

Food for thought....

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Anti-Social Media: the age of hate

“Social media is the collective of online communications channels dedicated to community-based input, interaction, content-sharing and collaboration”

Social: “living and breeding in more or less organized communities especially for the purposes of cooperation and mutual benefit”

The purpose of social media was help us get more connected, to share, collaborate, etc.; especially with people who lived far away. There is nothing social about the way we see it being used today:

·         Cyber bullying

·         Hate Speech

·         Shaming

These are just some of the daily things that happen on social media, and it seems like we are at the point where this kind of negativity is overtaking the positive aspect of what it was created for.

What is interesting is that people feel safe behind their computer screen, they say things to people virtually, that they would never say face to face. They feel powerful behind their anonymous keyboard personas, and unfortunately, even the most sane people can fall into this trap.

How many of you have commented on a post that was so outrageous you felt you had to say something? Did you change the poster’s mind? Did you truly feel better after commenting? Did you find yourself getting sucked into a back and forth cyber war?

The term “keyboard warrior” is recent, and it describes these cyber nuts who use the internet as their platform for hate. They have even infected our political discourse and debased it to the point where there is no discourse, just dysfunction. We cannot even have civil online conversations with other groups about the important things that affect us anymore!

I do not know what the solution is, but I know that ignoring an issue does not make it go away.

Remember the word social in social media, attempt to think of society at large when you post. This is not a kumbaya article, just a plea for sanity before we are all irreversibly gripped by madness.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

The importance of follow through: thoughts from an educator

Saying what you mean, and meaning what you say; that is something we should all be striving for in life. It is even more important when you are hiring people, writing recommendations, mentoring people, etc.

I have said it before and will say it again, everyone’s time is valuable, including the person applying for the job. What kind of relationships are you building with a non-caring attitude?

This is more than just communication (which many people do not truly understand), this is about effective communication.

Lessons from an MBA program.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Can you not just enjoy the music?

I picked up a part-time gig at a concert venue. I get to listen to world class musicians in every genre for free and I get paid for it. Something has been bugging me though, and it is the excess appearance of cell phones while the music is playing.

You have a Grammy award winning artist in front of you, and you are watching the concert through a cellphone?! Are you kidding me?!

I know your social media is so desperately in need of an update, and everyone must know you are listening to awesome music; but the trouble is you are not listening.

Try leaving your cell phones at home for a day and go out and have fun. You might actual enjoy some of that music.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

The silent trap of job boards

When you are looking for a job, besides networking, everyone signs up on job boards. I just realized I have never met one person who said that they have gotten their job from a job board directly.

I would love to be proven wrong on this.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

PS. All of them claim to be the number one place to get a job, interesting

A black man undercover in the alt-right | Theo E.J. Wilson | TEDxMileHigh

Sharing today:

Curious about his haters, Theo E.J. Wilson did the only reasonable thing – he went undercover and joined their ranks. In this insightful and downright hilarious talk, Theo shares some surprising discoveries about both sides of the aisle. Slam poet Theo E.J. Wilson, a.k.a Lucifury, is a founding member of Denver’s SlamNUBA team, which won the National Poetry Slam in 2011. He began his speaking career with the NAACP at the age of 15 and has always been passionate about social justice. Theo is currently the Executive Director of Shop Talk Live, an organization that uses the barbershop as a staging ground for community dialogue and healing. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdHJw0veVNY

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III
The ETeam

A truth that will not be admitted: An Educator’s point of view

For some reason, I keep seeing red herrings and non-sequiturs being thrown into discussions of “race and racially charged incidences”, and before anyone starts saying we are all one race, just know that I am using the term for educational purposes. Also, know that many Americans do believe we are different races, and that is a pity.

When you compare the KKK: “The Ku Klux Klan established in 1865, with its long history of violence, is the most infamous — and oldest — of American hate groups. Although black Americans have typically been the Klan's primary target, it also has attacked Jews, immigrants, gays and lesbians and, until recently, Catholics” https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/ideology/ku-klux-klan

To the Black Panthers:

“The Black Panther Party (BPP), was established in 1966 by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale. The two leading revolutionary men created the national organization as a way to collectively combat white oppression, after constantly seeing black people suffer from the torturous practices of police officers around the nation” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/27-important-facts-everyone-should-know-about-the-black-panthers_us_56c4d853e4b08ffac1276462

And to BLM:

“Black Lives Matter is an international activist movement, originating in the African-American community, that campaigns against violence and systemic racism towards black people. BLM regularly holds protests against police killings of black people and broader issues of racial profiling, police brutality, and racial inequality in the United States criminal justice system” http://blacklivesmatter.com/guiding-principles/

Comparing these groups are not like comparing apples and oranges which are both fruit, it is like comparing apples to chickens.

This is an apple:

This is a chicken:

They are nothing alike except they are both carbon base life forms.

·         Police brutality is real http://killedbypolice.net/

·       Justice is not equal (Gregory Gunn. Alton Sterling. Philando Castile. Terence Crutcher just to name a few). Police are rarely held accountable for killing civilians, especially black men.

There are so many stats, and most of them are ignored unless it benefits those in power. What happened in Charlottesville, VA was terrible not just because of the violence, but also because Americans died fighting those Nazi ideals, and yet we ae letting them on the street? Those Nazis showed up armed but were not arrested? Etc.

America, at some point we have to face our past and truly confront it, and it will not be pretty. This is not only living memory, but people are living it. Telling people to “get over it” does not help and is insulting.

Think America! Feel! Act!

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Do you know why Americans died in ww2? An education question and statement

Do you know why Americans died in ww2? An education question and statement

In regard to Charleville, VA this week

http://abcnews.go.com/US/unite-rally-virginia-sparks-counterprotests-state-emergency/story?id=49176243

“World War II fatality statistics vary, with estimates of total deaths ranging from 50 million to more than 80 million. The higher figure of over 80 million includes deaths from war-related disease and famine. World War II fatality statistics vary, with estimates of total deaths ranging from 50 million to more than 80 million”

 “World War II (1939-1945) ... The roots of World War II, which eventually pitted Germany, Japan, and Italy (the Axis) against the United States, Great Britain and the Soviet Union (the Allies), lay in the militaristic ideologies and expansionist policies of Nazi Germany, Italy, and Japan”. We were fighting fascism.

That is a lot of people.

Americans died fighting so they would not have to do that Nazi salute (all the axis powers used that salute by the way). Why the heck would you want to bring back that which so many AMERICANS died for? Nazism and its ideology, salutes, etc., is banned in Germany as well!

The AlT right are nothing but Nazis, that was proven this weekend. You might not mix with people of different skin colors, but if you consider yourself a patriot why the heck would you be using Nazi propaganda and rhetoric? WWII is very real to a large segment of the U.S population.

There is no excuse, no explanation that can clear this; as an educator and historian, I condemn this! As an American I condemn this! As a human, I condemn this!

That rally in Charlottesville had no place in the United States of America….

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

The far-reaching consequences of our criminal justice system

I learned something deep today: have you ever heard of “Collateral Consequences” in regard to the justice system? We all think we know how it affects people, but we mostly only know just the surface.

“Collateral consequences are legal and regulatory sanctions and restrictions that limit or prohibit people with criminal records from accessing employment, occupational licensing, housing, voting, education, and other opportunities. Collateral consequences most frequently affect people who have been convicted of a crime, though in some states an arrest alone—even an arrest that doesn't result in a conviction—may trigger a collateral consequence”.

“Some collateral consequences serve a legitimate public safety or regulatory function, such as keeping firearms out of the hands of people convicted of domestic violence offenses, prohibiting people convicted of abuse from working with children or the elderly, or barring people convicted of fraud from positions of public trust. Others are directly related to the particular crime, such as registration requirements for sex offenders, driver’s license restrictions for people convicted of serious traffic offense, or debarment of people convicted of fraud. But many collateral consequences apply to people convicted of any crime, without regard to any relationship between the crime and opportunity being restricted, and frequently without consideration of how long ago the crime occurred or the person’s rehabilitation efforts since. Collateral consequences with overbroad restrictions that offer no chance to overcome the restriction function as additional punishment and may discourage rehabilitation and ultimately increase recidivism”. 

“Collateral consequences are scattered throughout the codebooks and are frequently unknown even to those responsible for their administration and enforcement. They have been promulgated with little coordination in disparate sections of state and federal codes, which makes it difficult for anyone to identify all of the penalties and disabilities that may be triggered by a criminal record for a certain offense”. 

“While collateral consequences have been a familiar feature of the American justice system since colonial times, they have become more pervasive and more problematic in the past 20 years for three reasons: they are more numerous and impactful, they affect more people, and they are harder to avoid or mitigate. As a result, millions of Americans are consigned to a kind of a permanent legal limbo because of a crime they committed in the past”. 

https://niccc.csgjusticecenter.org/map/

It is calculated that the economy is missing out on approximately $87 Billion dollars a year on revenue because people with convictions are permanently labelled as criminals and cannot work due to these laws. Instead of someone being able to get a good solid job driving for UPS for example, they have to dig ditches for a living. Someone trained to be a barber cannot cut hair any longer because of this; about 40,000 collateral consequence!

I am going to quote something said to me today: “we as a society should not be counting recidivism rates as a measure of success, but rather, the quality of life of those who paid their debt to society”.

This is why criminal justice is a social issue: people should not be permanently labeled as criminals. If you believe this is true then you are not a true believer in justice, you simply believe in punishment.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

PS I should not have to tell you that the neighborhoods most affected by these rules are minority peoples.

The rumor and gossip mill has no place in education

Education is one of the most regulated industries in the United States, but I have always said that educators are big gossips, no matter what the level.

People get judged on popularity, seniority, and by whispers. I recently attended what I thought was a professional conversation about teaching, and one of the opening statements was “well I heard …about you”. You heard?!

We are supposed to be objective with our students, use rubrics, have learning goals, etc. How can we truly claim this if we cannot be objective with each other? Do you realize so many performance evaluations in education are based upon how the supervisor is feeling about you at that time, not about your performance for the year?

Unfortunately, we often treat our students this way as well. We judge them based upon student records, but we do not look closely at the records, just the juicy gossip. The teachers lounge in K12 is often full of negative student gossip.

Educators, we must do better if we are going to ever transform education. We are allowing non-educators to run us, because we cannot seem to run ourselves.

So, next time you feel like repeating that rumor, talking that trash, or judging someone on hearsay, let us practice what we teach the students:

·         Is this kind?

·         Is it true?

·         Is it necessary?

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Sharing a blog

Worth looking at...
https://jeanmarciyeliakerele.wordpress.com/

Private Prisons Trample on American Values: An Educator’s Researched Based Perspective

What is a for profit company? “A business or other organization whose primary goal is making money (a profit), as opposed to a non profit organization which focuses a goal such as helping the community and is concerned with money only as much as necessary to keep the organization operating”

So, if this company is not selling its services or product, it goes out of business. But what if it product is prisoners? That means in order to make money it would need its jails to be full; all the time. Remember, the number one goal of a company is to maximize profits for its owners.

“The Corrections Corporation of America launched the era of private prisons in 1983, when it opened an immigration detention center in an former motel in Houston, Texas. Today the Nashville-based company houses more than 66,000 inmates, making it the country’s second-largest private prison company. In 2015, it reported $1.9 billion in revenue and made more than $221 million in net income—more than $3,300 for each prisoner in its care”.

“CCA and other prison companies have written “occupancy guarantees” into their contracts, requiring states to pay a fee if they cannot provide a certain number of inmates. Winn Correctional Center was guaranteed to be 96 percent full”.

“The two largest for-profit prison companies in the United States – GEO and Corrections Corporation of America – and their associates have funneled more than $10 million to candidates since 1989 and have spent nearly $25 million on lobbying efforts. Meanwhile, these private companies have seen their revenue and market share soar”.

These systems do not only get you while you are inside prison, they get you if you have court fines, hallway house, on probation. Once they have you in their system, they make it very difficult for you to get out, and the average working person will end up paying dearly to get out of the system. Over inflated prices for goods, garnishing your paycheck for the privilege of being forced to stay at halfway house instead of being allowed to go home, fines and more fines.

“The Fines and Fees That Keep Former Prisoners Poor” “States and counties have upped the amounts they charge defendants, saddling those getting out of jail with huge amounts of debt they have little hope of paying off”.

“Increasingly, jurisdictions across the country are assessing hefty court fines and fees, called legal financial obligations (LFOs), on defendants, requiring them to pay thousands of dollars or face more jail time, according to Alexes Harris, the author of A Pound of Flesh: Monetary Sanctions for the Poor. Harris talked to one woman who was a victim of domestic violence and spent eight years in the prison system for shooting the father of her son. She’d been assessed $33,000 in LFOs, but 13 years after her conviction, despite minimum monthly payments she made, interest had brought her debt to $72,000”.  

“Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances”

“Amendment VIII Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted”

“Half of the world's prison population of about nine million is held in the US, China or Russia”. “Prison rates in the US are the world's highest, at 724 people per 100,000. In Russia, the rate is 581”.

Criminal justice reform in the United States would be one of the greatest things ever for human rights because, it is not enough to have laws of protection, what is needed is equal laws and true equal protection under the law no matter what your social status (or perceived status).

The state of incarceration in the United States, especially with the inclusion of the private prison system, is effrontery to American values, and all those who claim to love freedom, the constitution, and the United States of America, should be outraged.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Some references for your perusal

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/for-profit-organization.html

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/06/cca-corrections-corperation-america-private-prisons-company-profile/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/04/28/how-for-profit-prisons-have-become-the-biggest-lobby-no-one-is-talking-about/?utm_term=.a1ef45ea418a

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3520104/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/uk/06/prisons/html/nn2page1.stm

Are you truly patriotic? An educator’s thoughts…

The 4^th of July has just passed. So, the lingering of fireworks, flags, and people shouting “freedom” is still in the air. The 4^th of July is a day when people’s patriotism comes out full force, but like Mother’s Day, it soon fades back into the closet until the next year.

Why do you say that? I am glad you asked.

True patriotism does not take a day off, true patriotism is also not just loving “your” version of America but embracing everyone’s America. It means acknowledging the diversities of religion, culture, skin color, etc. It means accepting the fact that the country is far from perfect but you are going to try and make it better.

There are people who struggle on daily basis just trying to make it, so perhaps they might not feel like celebrating. Does this make them less American? Absolutely not! The beauty of the freedom the country is supposed to have means one size does not fit all, but we are all in the same big box.

So as you sing your patriotic songs, wave your flag, have your BBQ, etc., remember that true patriotism means recognizing the faults as well as the freedom. It means that you are embracing everyone’s America.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Sharing an article 6/30/2017

'I don't know how to lead for equity, that was not part of my program'

Equity took center stage in the day two conversations at the Education Commission of the States National Forum on Education Policy Thursday. One resonant statement reflected how principal preparation programs didn't include equity components, meaning that now leaders are struggling to approach their work through an equity lens.

Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education President Joe Garcia — who shared with the audience that his school counselors never once mentioned to him the idea of his going to college— said working harder to close achievement gaps from early education on through to higher ed is everyone’s work.

Read the rest here: http://www.educationdive.com/news/i-dont-know-how-to-lead-for-equity-that-was-not-part-of-my-program/446094/

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

The truth about “black on black crime’ by Dr Flavius Akerele III

Truth:

·         Most crime happens between people familiar with each other. So, FYI, the so called “black on black crime’ is bullshit. If black people committed more crimes outside of their segregated zone they would be extinct. We know this because it is near impossible to convict LE or anyone for killing black folks.

·         “White on white crime’ is almost as high as any crime

·         Skin color is not a race or culture

·         Most crime happens in poor neighborhoods

·         Most black neighborhoods are poor

·         The United States is still a segregated society. There are black, white, Asian, Latino, and, etc. neighborhoods, true fact.

·         The crime rate in poor white areas such as Michigan and West Virginia where there are large concentrations of poor whites is just as high as the poor black neighborhoods around the U.S

·         Black people are only 13%of the nation, they could not possibly be responsible for all the crime, welfare abuse, and murder they are attributed to.

·         Black people are not inherently pre-dispositioned towards crime, no studies or stats show this

·         President Obama was not elected by black people, he was elected by white people (majority stat in U.S population). 13% of the population, even if they could all vote (which they cannot due to prison disfranchising) could not vote a president in. Simple math.

Stop talking shit and listening to false news

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

The importance of letters of references/recommendations

Most jobs today are going to come from connections and networking; who you know really does matter. However, that does not mean you do not have a shot at an open position, and that is where recommendations come in handy. Specifically, timely and relevant recommendation.

I cannot count the number of times I have been asked to write a letter of reference, and my rules on this are simple:

1.      Please give me a template on what they are looking for so I can properly frame the recommendation

2.      Try and avoid asking me for a last-minute letter of references/recommendations

3.      If I say yes, I will do it almost immediately.

The last part is important because someone’s application could be getting held up because of that one letter of reference, especially when computers are tallying up everything nowadays. Having experienced that particular phenomenon, I can tell you it is not a pleasant feeling when someone flakes on their promise of a letter of reference. Worse still, you write someone a letter of reference or recommendation with the understanding they will do the same for you; and they never do.

Do what you say you are going to do, and do it in a timely manner because a person’s job could be on the line. It is simple professionalism.

Lessons from a communication and human resources class.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Certificate training program in leadership/leadership development

Summary

Strong leadership is the cornerstone for a successful institution, and strength comes from training as well as experience. It is often the case specific training does not occur before a leadership appointment nor does it occur after a leader is chosen; rather it is often based upon seniority or the “old boys network”, as can be clearly in many companies. The kind of leadership needed for this arena in the 21^st century is different, and requires and upgrade in tools and training.

A certificate in leadership/leadership development would give the much needed specific knowledge of four key areas, to leaders. It will give them the training they do not have and will not get, it will provide stability, reduce turnover of positions because leaders are not feeling overwhelmed, and it can build a network between peers and make the atmosphere more collaborative.

While there are programs that exist in the industry, most are geared towards specific companies and do not incorporate graduate level MBA education.

Who can benefit from this? All C level leaders, Program managers, Directors, supervisors, those seeking advancement, and so much more.

The 4 Courses plus one project:

Leadership 

Human Resources Management 

Law and Ethics 

Strategic Leadership

Want to learn more?

http://www.theeteamconsulting.com/about-us.html 

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Real Educational Leadership and Change is Needed

I would love to see this quote proved wrong but I will not hold my breath because nine years later this hasn't changed much...: ""The mistake of most traditional campus-based institutions was to see the potential if online learning in terms of access and serving more students instead of serving current students better" (Garrison & Vaughan, 2008)"

Omission in the day and age of instant communication is dangerous

Let us look at this sentence: “I don’t like because of color”. If inserted into the wrong conversation in the right way, all of sudden you have an argument about racism. The whole sentence was really: “I don’t like this couch because the of the color”, a significant difference.

When people alter, or omit words from sentences, it can have a profound effect on a conversation, when leaders do this, it can have a devastating effect in general. Leaders who consistently keep their employees in the dark are fostering a culture that thrives on rumors because we all know that information gap will be filled by something. It is even more sad when the information that was withheld was not even vital!

If you want “buy-in" from your employees than you need to give them something to buy; if you want to have civil conversations then you need to check your sources before you quote. The standards of using references that are peer reviewed and reliable is not just for academia.

A lesson from a communication course. #communication #leadership #education

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

A Professional’s Credentials Deserve a Proper Look

I have been seeing a lot of resume posts recently on whether a resume “passes the 6 second test”, and it disturbs me. Do you mean to stay that my vast professional experience and education is only worth six seconds of your time? You mean to tell me you are not interested in a potentially excellent candidate?

A professional’s experience cannot be nor should it be summed up in mere seconds. If you are serious about recruiting the best than you need to act like it; the best deserves more of your time.

We all understand that there are many more applications today for a single job, but you owe it to your company and to future employees to do your due diligence and treat them as more than a number.

This also extends to returning emails and phone calls by the way, especially if you asked the person to do just that. There are far too many rude employers out there who feel they can just ignore a legitimate communication from someone.

How you recruit is what you get, and how you try and retain is what stays.

Lessons from an MBA course.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

Th ETeam

PS, Employers, for Pete’s sake keep communication formal as well. Use proper titles, tense, and tone.