Being “solution conscious – not problem conscious” is Zig Ziglar’s way of talking about being a “fixer.” I am certainly a fixer! My daughter, Michelle and my husband are also fixers! This is a good thing…except when we have different ideas about how to fix the same thing at the same time! Talk about a room full of strong-willed people! In fact, much of our school’s faculty is made up of fixers! We are never at a loss for solutions offered to prevent or to fix a problem.
This previous paragraph may surprise people, but many of our students growing up today are not “fixers” but rather complainers about how bad things are…how bored they are…how unfair life is…and on and on. Even mundane problems like how to get their over-stuffed backpacks to fit into their lockers seem to overwhelm them. So, I see students just walk away and let someone else fix the problem.
Perhaps what I am witnessing is the result of so many helicopter parents who hover over their children making life suit the child’s every need. I am not quite sure if that can explain it or not. But I am aware that many of our students just wait for someone else to find the solutions to any and all problems of life. And if a solution isn’t found at the speed of the fastest computer or cellphone, they are dismayed.
To help my young students take the first steps at solution seeking, we play all kinds of games in which strategy and foresight are needed. We solve conundrums of many types which teach them patience. Likewise, we have studied how great scientists have used the scientific methods to develop vaccines and life-saving medicines. As I have mentioned before, we have seen how Dr. George Washington Carver found over 300 uses for peanuts.
Studying the experiments of Thomas Edison to develop the light bulb really showed the students how persistence was needed to be successful.
At the present time, I am struggling with the nation’s constant banter about the problems of education in our nation’s schools. We hear about all the problems, pass legislation which throws more money at it, and we still are lagging behind other nations in math and reading. Not once in the constant stream of grievance-airing have I heard a solution given such as look at the curriculum…look at the expectations we have for our students.
I saw the problems…my husband and I went into deep financial debt…but we founded a school where we did and do look at curriculum and brain-compatible teaching methods. We have found solutions. No, we haven’t solved all educational problems. Yet, we have made an overwhelming difference in the lives of students and families who have trusted us. Michelle has set into motion many ideas which make our graduates career-ready when they leave our school. I like what our Accreditation Reviewer wrote about our school: “They are doing education right!” We certainly are putting forth solutions…and we will continue to find more and more solutions. Why? Because we are solution conscious!
Finally, I can say we have stepped through that door at the top of the stairway to success. And as we mentioned before, one of our dear patrons said, “Hey! Congratulations for being an overnight success. And it only took twenty years to do it!” We could sit back and just think about our journey to the top. However, none of our family is able to do that. We each, even my grandchildren, are constantly turning to one another and beginning a conversation by saying, “Hey! You know what we could do? Maybe we should…” And off we go again!
-Kay