I have written before that I am reluctant to wade into political issues with my weekly blog as I think my responsibility is to be non-partisan; however, sometimes political events, particular those of this past week, induce serious reflection.
As I have watched federal and municipal political events unfold over the last week, I have wondered about the learning our girls are experiencing about leadership. How are they processing the events and the issues and how are they applying this to their own understanding of what strong leadership should be?
I am reminded of the importance of observation as I write this blog. Pinned to the bulletin board above my desk are several quotations that have resonated with me. One of these jumped out at me this evening. Marilyn vos Savant, an American author and lecturer, said “To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe.”
St. Clement’s School’s leadership framework is based on the work of Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, scholars who have been recognized internationally for their work in leadership management. Their framework is based on five key components- one of which is the notion of ‘Modelling the Way.’ Within this framework, Kouzes and Posner highlight the following: “Leaders practice what they preach- they are serious about their duty to represent their values and standards to the rest of the world, and to live up to them to the best of their abilities.”
It is my hope that as our girls observe the goings-on in our country’s Senate and at Toronto City Hall, they acquire increased wisdom as to what they should be seeing as opposed to what they are seeing.
