Re: Education

["Jerry Mairani" <quality1@inreach.com>]

John Seddon Wrote:

We see the same in UK schools at the moment. After a lot of work on
documenting the curriculum taught, student results and so on, then
presenting all this to - and being watched by - inspectors, the teachers
are left with a sense of loss.


I am not sure this will help, but I thought I would share.  In my ASQ capacities
I just helped host the 11th Annual International Koalaty Kid Conference in
Sacramento last week.  We had over 400 educators from all over the world,
including the U.K., Sweden, Norway, Canada, South America, etc., as well as from
the U.S.  Using the book sales as data, what sold was what was simple.  The most
sold book was "Thinking Tools for Children," a collection of the simple quality
tools and how to introduce them to K6 children.  I have seen 3rd graders doing
fishbones on why kids don't turn in there homework.  Among the 30 or so books
there, several were Deming based books on education.  Sales we low on all the
Deming books, especially those that were based on theory.  Talking with at least
150 educators and administrators about their choices revealed their focus, no
check that; their passion is the kids.  They do not want to learn about Deming,
or for that matter any quality theory.  They want how to materials.  At a risk
of sounding like I am promoting Koalaty Kid, the success we are having is that
we keep it simple, kid focused, and well supported.  As we have just received a
generous contribution from a Lodi based company of over $400,000 dollars to fund
the Koalaty Kid program for the entire Lodi School District for the next five
years, we are going to put together a five year linear study to cross-correlate
Koalaty Kid implementation with academic and likely social growth.  This is the
only entire school district in the U.S. to have such an opportunity.

What I believe is the moral of the story.

Keep it simple, focused on Kids, and well supported.  Remember the AIM - better
education for Kids, not a prize.

Jerry J. Mairani
Region 6 Director Elect.
American Society for Quality
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