Peter Drucker, in his “The Practice of Management” wrote this about management:
“Performance: The Test of Management”
The ultimate test of management is performance. Management, in other words, is a practice, rather than a science or profession, although containing elements of both. No greater damage could be done to our economy or to our society than to attempt to professionalize management by licensing manager, for instance, or by limiting access to management positions to people with a special academic degree. On the contrary, the test of good management is whether it enables the successful performer to do her work. And any serious attempt to make management “scientific” or a “profession” is bound to lead to the attempt to eliminate those “disturbing nuisances,” the unpredictabilities of business life — its risks, its ups and downs, its “wasteful competition,” the “irrational choices” of the consumer — and in the process, the economy’s freedom and its ability to grow.”
Now… let’s read it again… only this time substituting “schooling” (which is a form of management)… and let’s contemplate the “greater damage”…
“Performance: The Test of Schooling”
The ultimate test of schooling is performance. Schooling, in other words, is a practice, rather than a science or profession, although containing elements of both. No greater damage could be done to our economy or to our society than to attempt to professionalize schooling by licensing schooler, for instance, or by limiting access to schooling positions to people with a special academic degree. On the contrary, the test of good schooling is whether it enables the successful schooler (or, perhaps, student) to do her work. And any serious attempt to make schooling “scientific” or a “profession” is bound to lead to the attempt to eliminate those “disturbing nuisances,” the unpredictabilities of educational life — its risks, its ups and downs, its “wasteful competition,” the “irrational choices” of the consumer — and in the process, the economy’s (and schooling’s) freedom and its ability to grow.”
Spooky, eh?
GLO
gordotto@parentsnschools.com
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