My Bird Story

My Bird Story

Once upon a time, there was a hardworking dedicated Sparrow called X, teaching several chicks how to fly. The head of the Sparrow Flight School was an Eagle called M.

M: What are you doing?

X: I'm teaching the chicks how to fly.

M: But all I see is them flapping their wings while on the ground.

X: Yes?

M: They have been doing this for the past few days.Why haven't I seen any more exciting and engaging flying lessons from you?

X: Well, they need to strengthen their wings before they can fly. So we need to Drill this skill into them, and have them Practice as much as possible.

M: But is that all they are doing? They look bored and some don't want to do it. You should stretch them further.

X: Yes, we do stretching exercises before and after...

M: No, I mean why aren't they engaged in independant learning? They are only doing what you tell them to do.

X: Yes, because I have flown beofore, they haven't.

M: But are they truly engaged?

X: How much more engagement can there be when they do what they should be doing?

M: It is important for the chicks to think about flying. They could be doing a journal where they can reflect on their learning for they day. Get them to reflect on their flapping process. Get them to think about the philosophy of flying. The flapping teaches them perserverence, not to give up, and resilience. They need to think about these things. See, these are very exciting ideas you could incorporate into your lessons.

X: But they haven't flown yet.

M: That doesn't matter! They can still think about flying! They can also be reflecting on more advanced skills. Give them the exposure to try aerobatics, they will need these skills in Advanced Flight school. And it is up to you as the flight instructor to do this.

X: Look, there are other flight school around, the Mynah Flight School, and they believe in Drilling the skill and practicing them repeatedly so that they are ready when the flight exam comes. And they have a very high passing rate.

M: Must we just follow what others are doing? We Do It Differently here. We believe in what we are doing don't we?

X: Only you seem to. But don't you think that if they do something that shows results, we should learn from them? Especially if their chicks began with smaller wings than ours?

M: Don't you agree that wholistic education is important?

X: Yes, but...

M: Good!Thats a start!

X: But there are some problems we need to discuss...

M: Lets park these problems. We know we want to do this, so lets just hear your ideas on how this can be done.

X: You know, you need to stop inturrupting me and let me finish my sentances.

M: Well, I'm direct, thats the type of person I am.

X: Okay... well, yes, thinking is good, but in our society, we have a high stakes exams that all chicks must go through. Spending time doing other things is good, but the main reason they are in a Flight School is to learn how to fly. Less time spent practicing their drills, means their wings are weaker. If they fail the flight exam, their choices will be limited.

M: If your chicks fail, it means that you and your flight instructors have not been good enough to really engage them in learning how to fly. We need to look at the instructors pedagogies and really level them up.

X: Yes, well and good, but if they do not keep on practicing through their drilling and practicing, they will fail! They have to jump off a tree and actually fly! Not jump of the tree and think about flying. They will crash into the ground thinking they could fly!

M: Why are you so negative? In the Eagle Flight School where I came from, our chicks were taught thinking skills, and still they succeeded in the Flight test! And many other flight schools like the Osprey and Hawk Flight schools are doing this!

X: But their wings are bigger when they enter the Flight school!

M: You seem to be in the box. You keep on having these Self Justifying images about the inadequacies of our chicks. Remember that you must expect greatness!

X: If their wings are not big enough, they still need to strengthen them before flying. They need to progress slowly through the necessary stages. Once they clear the flight exam, they have more time in advanced flight school to learn the more advanced skills...

M: Is the exams really the most important thing? Do we want to just produce chicks who can clear the flight exam?

X: Thats why we are called a FLIGHT SCHOOL. What good is teaching them these advanced skills when they are going to jump off that tree and splatter on the ground? They will become crippled and that would severely restrict their choices later in life...

M: Well, this discussion has been a fruitful one. There were many ideas discussed, but I think that you are not ready to face reality yet. Lets park these and come back to them again when our Management Council next meets. In the meantime, go and prepare for your performance review session. remember, that our Core business is teaching chicks how to fly. If we fail in it, then we really shouldn't be here at all.

X: LPPL...