Choice Book Report

The Art of Possibility

by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander

Penguin Books, 2000

I chose this book based on my desire to really go bigger with my thinking about education beyond what I want to do better now or next year in my classroom and into, “How can affect change in education globally?” I got excited after watching Ben Zander’s Ted Talk, “The Transformative Power of Classical Music” because he is so passionate, and in a short talk not only made his point about classical music being accessible to all, but also the beginning idea of “Possibility.”  I love this book and feel empowered and open after reading it.

Key concepts are found through “12 Practices” we can employ to shift paradigms creatively.  The theory Ms. Zander sets forth is based on repetition of key practices, so as the book moves forward, they reuse earlier “practices” as they develop the next one.  Although the book is billed as a means for “Transforming Professional and Personal Life,” I found it quite relevant to my teaching practice, and Mr. Zander is a teacher in many regards.  We say we start everything with “what’s best for the students” but we compromise that idea on every level as we encounter roadblocks.  If we stop protecting our time, theoretical student needs, the bottom line and parent concerns, education can be better.  It's up to us, change leaders, to manifest possibility, harmony, effective practices, and presence in our educational communities.  

The Practices:

1. It’s all invented. Every story we tell, every idea we have about how education should be, is based assumptions, experiences, and perceptions - all of which are in our mind.
2. Stepping into the Universe.  We live with scales, stack ourselves up against others, place ourselves in relation to standards. What if we let go of limits and invented labels and decided that we can do ANYTHING we want in education?  
3. Giving an A.  Everything exists in the framework we give it, our perception- which is INVENTED- why not choose the “A” frame every time?
4. Being a Contribution. Letting go of accomplishments measuring frameworks we’ve invented and inviting in our ability to contribute.
5. Leading from Any Chair. Leaders are everywhere.  Teachers can lead, but so can students, peers, the community, global citizens...
6. Rule #6. Lighten up!
7. The Way Things Are. We construct barriers that actually only appear when we call them up.  Imagine the worst problem in your school.  Now picture it as an opportunity.  Now picture it as it really is.
8. Giving Way to Passion.
9. Lighting a Spark. Certain things in life are better done in person- what would have gone better if someone you wanted something from could see the sparkle of excitement in your eye?
10. Being the Board.  In regard to unwanted circumstances - own the risks associated with life and your actions, accept failure as just one possible outcome, and success as another.
11. Creating Frameworks for Possibility. Missions are often just “aspirations” of importance, not powerful frameworks that release us from bureaucracy and lead us into changes for the greater good of education.  Visions are sources of responsible, on track participation in the WHOLE.
12. Telling the WE Story.  We in the general sense, not you plus me.  In every story, there’s one side, the other, and the truth.  

My take-aways were numerous, but these are the top three.  WE need to fine tune our vision of excellence in education in the broadest sense of imagination.  Student voice, teacher voice, parent voice, school voice... What if heard them all as the WE perspective instead?  Common goals create a feeling of "we're in this together."  My school can be a model school; so can yours.  We have to believe in the possibility of mass customized learning that is equitable and joyful.

To be fair, many of my favorite quotes from the book were from other sources such as Soren Kierkegaard’s Either/Or, Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and William James.  From the authors, though, the following are most meaningful to me.  

"All around us is vibrancy and energy.  The universe is sparkling with generative power." (page 113)  I see this every day in every student I work with.  I want to tap into the universe to make education better for each of them.

"Being with the way things are calls for an expansion of ourselves... The practice of being with the way things are allows us to alight in a place of openness, where 'the truth' readies us for the next step, and the sky opens up." (page 111)  We need to be honest about where we are in order to be open up to what we need to do for the future of education.  

"A vision is an open invitation and an inspiration for people to create ideas and events that correlate with its definitional framework." (page 171)  Clear vision is necessary to progress.  It anchors through all of the inevitable challenges as a means to see the forest through the trees.

 
My challenges, or “fierce wonderings,” are based in my challenges to myself.  Why not give everyone an A?  Grades as we know them and test scores don’t seem to be helping education.  We can do better if we’re working with expectations of the best, not the worst.  What constraints have been created that are keeping us from the changes we want to see in education?  “It’s all invented.” What would have to change for complete fulfillment? Now go do that.

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