Class 4: November 14

So this was the last class. I had to call out of work in order to go since he changed the day to Monday night instead of Friday night. He also sent an email with specific details for our 5 minute presentation for class 2 and a half hours before class started. I was literally at work when it came into my inbox. I had an hour and a half between when I got out of work and the start of class so I at least had a little time to throw something together. Definitely didn't help my anxiety at all. Honestly, I couldn't believe that he did that. I managed to get something coherent together to talk about in class. The worst part of the paper writing process so far has been the fact that none of the people I emailed to solicit their opinion responded. I'm still hopeful that maybe they are just taking their time and at the last minute at least one of them will come through for me. I really wanted to present a well rounded perspective, but that is difficult if the players involved don't care to participate. Otherwise, I really just need to start writing. This paper is due December 8th. I also have 2 other deliverables planned to do, but the major paper needs to be done first. I also have 2 presentations between now and then that I have to do first. It really is coming down to the wire and the semester is almost over. I had hoped by my last blog post, I would feel more prepared and accomplished than I do at the moment, but I do feel a little better than I did when this journey began. I will post my video on the blog, so that will really be the end.

Class 3: November 4

There was a fair bit of stress coming into this class. We had two deliverables due, an outline and a annotated bibliography. I spent a decent amount of time researching, but I am not where near completed. Class was also moved back a week so now I only have a week and a half before the next class. Luckily the deliverables were actually due to be submitted online last night so I had time to make changes. My paper has moved into a different direction from being more fundamentally rooted in history and theoretical thinking about bureaucracy's role in education to the implications of Maine's current leadership. It has taken on a more political tone, which is not my forte. In fact I actually despise the delicacy needed in politics. I am not very delicate and I prefer when people are upfront about their intentions. Whether I like it or not education is inherently intertwined in politics. So perhaps this will be a good lesson for me. Class was only slightly more useful in that I actually spoke and got feedback on my topic from my classmates. That feedback has really helped me work out what is at the core of what I want to explore. Is leadership only considered leadership if it is stable and dynamic? Can bureaucracy be a good thing in the face of instability at the top, as in the tasks still get completed? Will Maine take the opportunity for flexibility given by the federal government under ESSA to chart out its path for the future or will it return that power to the districts? Do district leaders have the desire and capacity to set the priorities for their own students and schools? Of course my paper simply cannot cover all of these ideas, but it is a starting place to consider our future. There is opportunity here for some entity to step in the accountability power vacuum vacated by the federal government. I want to make that clear to those wondering about the future direction of Maine's education policy.