A Larger Purpose in the Future

["Ivan Webb" <Ivan.Webb@bigpond.com>]

At the moment the DEN serves its members by creating a forum in which
participants can collaborate to meet their needs through dialogue in text.
It would appear that the DEN has improved (developed) little in the several
since I first encountered it.  Indeed many of the discussion topics remain
the same, eg, SoPK in education.

The underlying belief seems to be  that it will make a major contribution to
the success and well-being of others through the application of the
teachings of Dr Deming (and in particular the promotion of the SoPK).

So what will the DEN be like in its next stage of development? I suspect
that it may have a stronger focus on directly improving current thinking in
public demain.

For example, the US has a $1Bn project which aims to ensure that "No Child
(is) Left Behind" in terms of their education, see,

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20030105_407.html but as WED would
say, "By what method?"

The proposal does have a four part 'method' (principles), see,
http://www.nochildleftbehind.gov/ and this 'method' is very similar to those
in use across the world in education for the past 25 years.
   Accountability (for schools and districts) guaranteeing results
   Flexibility - local control for local challenges
   Research based reforms - proven methods with proven results
   Parental options - choices for parents, hope for kids

Is it possible (and appropriate) for members of the DEN to collaborate in
this forum to identify the strengths and weakness of the No Child Left
Behind proposals?

This has the potential to
- be highly challenging and informative to members
- build bridges between SoPK and current common practices
- establish a SoPK-based method for achieving what the 'No Child Left
Behind' program is hoping for
- improve the way in which we in the DEN tackle big issues such as education
- improve that contributions of the DEN members in real situations
- establish the DEN as a model online professional/community service
organization

With respect,

Ivan Webb