The Chaortic Model

Lecture notes from the January 25th, 2006 parent meeting with George Hoffecker.
Transcribed by Tim Connolly.

 

You could literally say that I grew up in education. Since I was five years old, I have been on both sides of the desk in a matter of speaking. I found myself gravitate to the charter movement in 1995 when I could feel my enthusiasm to be in the classroom slipping and had the opportunity to lead an exciting new impulse. I was asked to help initiate these schools in the Grass Valley area of Northern California where I lived with my family. I jumped at the opportunity to serve the movement in this new way. I was also extremely excited to bring a new, sharper impulse to public education where I felt Waldorf education needed to go. I seem to be partially correct in that there are now 50 of these schools nationwide, with 25 of them located in California.

 

I spoke with one of my colleagues the other day that was the former Chief of Standards for the State of California at the Education Department. He indicated that legislation was pending that would allow for the State Board of Education to authorize a new school system under one basic philosophy which could mean that schools like this would not only be recognized on the local level, but on the state level. As I mingled this past weekend with multiple colleagues of the movement in a conference on the charter school movement, there was enthusiasm about the growth, but an arms length still between the independent Waldorf movement and its public brethren.

 

I believe this new impulse will stay alive based on the vision of the organizers in each school. Parents are the initiators of Waldorf charters and it is their enthusiasm and inspiration that will hold an individual school together. Parents are the lifeblood of schools yet the public system has stopped recognizing that. The communication that is so necessary for a school to breathe; to remain vital and to stay energized must be constant. It must be a steady interplay between educators, board officials and parents. A successful organization structure is the key to the success here, and the various councils of a school are the equivalent to the heart of the world. If we lose this, we make the school ill. The hypocrisy that arises once we do that cannot be lived with. We must find ourselves constantly re-creating ourselves, which is the heart of Rudolf Steiner’s teachings.

 

Besides the key intangibles that help an organization like this operate, one significant tangible is teacher education. As with any school, many things can go well, but it often spins around the quality of the teaching staff. At Journey, I have seen some brilliant lessons. I have seen an artful weaving of the standards, with artistic images that bring the word to life. As a teacher, I invite dialogue as I feel that creating a shared image will keep these kinds of lessons alive. I cannot stress enough the need to work together. The necessity for communication will never end. Teachers need to steadily improve. Parents can support this with involvement and fundraising. The Council needs to attend to its business and see that there is accountability within the school.

 

Education has come under crisis in this country. Steiner indicated that in 1919 that there would need to be compromises to work to state standards. Policies such as No Child Left Behind will eventually fold, but standards and accountability never will. Parents have this responsibility to speak to this and keep the inner fire alive, as they are the keepers of the hearth. California spends approximately $6,000 per year to educate a child. New Jersey spends $11,000 to do so. It is clear that decisions need to be made that address these types of differences. Or, perhaps for California to take a much closer look at this. Alliances must be made, and this must be made between parents and teachers. Charter schools are working to break the myth that the alliance in schools cannot be resurrected. Don’t let yourself begin to position. Pay attention to what got you here, and believe that good will propel you into the future. Be positive, as this positivity will provide courage. Leadership needs to stay aware of the school’s goals, and take responsibility for the shared vision to not become myopic.

 

A recent Rand Corporation study found that organizations desire change. They often begin by looking at what they have done wrong. They work from what I call deficit energy. Changes can be made but in the end they fall back to the familiar that did not work. I believe this change can occur with dialogue. If you dialogue first prior to decisions being made, many ideas can be opened rather than closed. Journey School operates from what I call a chaortic model. It sounds bad, but in my reality it is exactly where you want to be. To keep this going, you will have to enjoy dialoguing. You need to have leadership that is in touch with the various leadership groups of the school. You must depend on the oral tradition that surrounds Waldorf schools focusing on stories that are successful. You can get by in this way, fix matters and move forward, but your policies will always need to reflect your core values. You need to meet each other in a human-to-human way. Remember that we all seek to learn. Don’t commit anything to cement. Do not get attached, stay committed to dialogue.

 

Think of organizations that you are aware of. Picture those where the order principle became too strong. You see that these types of structures can lead to an unnecessary death of an organization. Biologists will tell you that the cell wall is too vital to the organism, and when it loses its forces, it enters into death. In Chaos Theory, like the cell, life takes place in the center and allows for new possibilities to come to birth. A mutual manifestation can be formed. I say to you again, work with your teachers. Don’t go off on your own and don’t let them do the same. Congruent systems last, while dictatorships soon expire. Always look at what you do. Do it well. There will always be boxes, and do not put yourself or others in those boxes. Seek social and personal renewal. There is no other way.

 

I thank you for the time you have given me tonight and I look forward to seeing the school constantly re-envision itself.