27. Permission, Protection, and Policy Reduction

I’m in a group chat with several of my favorite fellow educational leaders where we help each other work through issues stemming from a variety of topics. But one recent question posed to the group really got to the heart of so much of what is facing educators in the United States: Fear. Fear has a profound impact on public education, often holding back progress and innovation. From curriculum choices, to developing a supportive school culture, to the fear instilled by standardized testing for both students and teachers, fear in educational environments limits critical thinking, disengages students, and keeps teachers stuck with outdated methods and practices. Overcoming these fears involves fostering a supportive environment that encourages risk taking, values diverse viewpoints, and prioritizes the well being of both students and teachers. But it is possible to create change in our educational systems and there are three essential Ps that can help us do it. LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE TO HEAR: Why Permission is crucial to cultivating an environment where students and teachers can innovate Why teachers need Protection from punitive consequences in order to take risks and create opportunities for growth How Policy Reduction helps educators be more agile and responsive in implementing new ideas Questions for educators and leaders to help identify where and how to bring more of the 3 Ps into schools LEARN MORE ABOUT MELISSA EMLER AND MODERN LEARNERS: Modern Learners Modern Learners Community