Catholic Leaders: The Fiddlers on the Roof Balancing Paradoxes, Parables and Possibilities ACU: 6 th International Conference in Catholic Educational Leadership Dr Dan White 13 August 2013
Balancing the Secular and the Sacred A Paradox, a Parable and a Possibility
THE SECULAR PARADOX #1 Increasing educational funding does not equate to improved learning outcomes for students.
THE SECULAR PARADOX #1 If I were a Rich Man Man
THE SECULAR PARADOX #1 Insights from International Research o Class sizes o Incentives: Salaries v/s Knowledge Workers o Non-teaching time o What happens in the classroom The modern world doesn t pay for what you know, but for what you can do with what you know Andres Schleicher
BALANCING THE POSSIBILITIES: The real question is not the quantum of resources but how they are deployed! The Lessons from System Research.
BALANCING THE POSSIBILITIES: The Lessons from System Research: o Less is Better o Imposed solutions don t work o Danger on just focusing on low performing students o There is No School Gate o Maintaining focus over time is the single hardest thing to do when managing change o Disciplined innovation involves experimenting in thoughtful ways and studying the outcomes o Co-construction and Co-responsibility are key. (Levin 2012)
THE SECULAR PARADOX #2 As secular Governments focus the educational agenda on equity the demands of accountability can strangle the traditional commitment to equity of Catholic Schools
THE SECULAR PARADOX #2 The Parable of the Strangler Fig
THE SECULAR PARADOX #2 Insights from National Partnerships ohurriedly developed short-term programs oover-commitment/too many initiatives oover evaluation olack of pre-formation olack of needs analysis
BALANCING THE POSSIBILITIES: o The Eucalypts fight back. o Shedding the bark o Prune the dying branch o Unleashing the fire
THE SECULAR PARADOX #3 How the most philosophically united education system in Australia continues to deliver high quality outcomes in the face of diverse governance structures and the lack of systemic collaboration across schools and dioceses
THE SECULAR PARADOX #3 Ancient Wisdom Modern Applications
BALANCING THE POSSIBILITIES: Respect of Clans Role of Collaboration Role of Elders Importance of Intermarriage /Trade/Wisdom Celebrating Tradition Reading the Signs of the Times: Bubbling Spring Take only what is needed
Pause for Reflection Ever Ancient Ever New
THE SACRED PARADOX #1 We live in a Church with some of the richest and most beautiful spiritual and liturgical traditions known to human kind yet our young people are not hearing the fish grunt! grunt!
THE SACRED PARADOX #1 It is not like a picture you have to hear the fish grunt
Catechesis 13% New Evangelisation 70% Evangelisation 17% Reconceptualise Catholic Schools Religious Religious Culture of Family & Religious Culture of School Emphasis on Christian Values Secular Confessional Schools
BALANCING THE POSSIBILITIES: o Sense of Community o Sense of Connection o Sense of Purpose
THE SACRED PARADOX #2 How to stay true to the teachings of the Church whilst concurrently being the compassionate face of Christ in an oft times broken world. We are many times controllers of faith, instead of becoming facilitators of faith of the people Pope Francis
THE SACRED PARADOX #2 When to Bend When to Hold Fast
BALANCING THE POSSIBILITIES: o Recognising - the brokenness of life are the moments of real evangelisation o Don t Add Don t Subtract - The voice in the staff room
CONCLUSION: A FINAL PARADOX In an era where the public perception of the Catholic Church is so low - enrolments in Catholic schools continue to rise.
The Three String Fiddle Making Music with What you have Left
THE POSSIBILITIES: The challenge to play with new passion, new power, new purity
So how do Catholic Leaders keep their balance? It s all about