Educating in Hard Economic Times

A close look at successful organizations will reveal that their success, in large part, is due the way they take care of their employees primary needs, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. With strong emphasis on the well being of family; work place safety, job security, protection from unfair authority, due process and predictable order. Income for food, shelter, insurance, savings, kids education and others. This is why School Districts and labor unions place more bargaining emphasis to satisfy these needs.
During our present economic difficulties in our country, state, city, district, school we can not overlook these needs. This time, we are we are all in the same pickle jar. Have you wondered how your students and their families are meeting these economic challenges at home? Do they have food on the table? Do they come to school with a warm Jacket? Are their parents working? Has attendance decreased? Have you noticed lethargic, worried students in your class and wondered why?

Herein lies the big problem because we will not be able to meet all of their needs in our classrooms. We can, however, help them with some of their other needs; friendship, belonging, support and understanding. I recall that during my teaching years I as the sponsor of the "lost and found", I would always have a collection of unclaimed Jackets and sweaters which were very handy during the cold Winter. Students sitting in our classrooms desperately need to know that they are accepted and belong in your class, school clubs or teams. The need for belonging during difficult economic times is physiologically very important. And if you don't provide for their physiological needs the gangs will.

Just like our teachers, during this harsh perilous time, need to be good classroom leaders; so too, our principals need to be good school leaders. They must know and understand the primary needs of those being led, failing to do so would put the principal in great peril. Those being led will quickly discern if the school leader is unaware or concerned about their primary needs. Just like an uncaring teacher will loose students' respect, an uncaring appointed school leader will look back and no one will be following.

Therefore, principals must be sincere and honest about the difficult financial times school districts are facing, particularly in their school. A prerequisite for successful delivery of bad news is to keep in mind the primary needs of your staff, they are human beings and they are members of your school team, what affects one affects them all. Are you aware whose husband or wife has lost their job? cut back of hours? family illness? How are you notifying them of school of cuts on material and programs? personnel releases, furloughs or non-contract renewals?

Leading people can be very difficult, weather you are trying to get students interested in your class lessons, or trying to motivate a teachers to better performance. They both function as teams one is a team of students in the classroom and one is the faculty team. Both have primary needs that must be met. Both classroom and school leaders are well aware that schools are in the people business with all the interactions of human behavior and conditions. If we wish to be successful in our field we should never loose sight of our duty, treat everyone with a caring, intelligent and helpful manner. Our students and our teachers need support and encouragement during these difficult economic times.


For resources I recommend:
A theory of Human Motivation. A.H. Maslow
Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. by Stephen Covey

1. Be proactive. This is the ability to controls one's environment, rather than have it control you.
2. Begin with the end in mind. See the desired outcome.
3. Put first things first.
4. Think win-win. Very important, cooperative effort.
5. Seek firsts to understand and then to be understood. Developing positive relationships.
6. Synergize. Creative cooperation.
7. Sharpen the saw. Learning from your previous experiences, aspire to higher levels