Conversations With The Finest Students In The World: Ep. 1

What can the finest students in the world tell us about teaching, learning, parenting, and leading?

Student: Why do you do these interviews?”

Mr. C:Well I have been doing them for a while. About 20 years now. It started as my own attempt at personal and professional development. I wanted to become a better parent and a better teacher.

Student: HEHE. How does interviewing high school students make you a better parent or teacher? What does a high school kid know about either of those things? Come on Mr. C.

Mr. C: Well, when I was young, I read some research that said the people who have the most accurate perception of a leader’s performance were the people they actually lead. Because everybody tries to put up a front to their boss, right? You know. When I walk into a classroom, does your teacher act exactly the same way they were before I walked in?

Student: No way. That is the funniest thing, we always talk about that. Well, to be honest ,some of the teachers keep doing what they should be. But yeah, everyone gets more engaged and helpful to students when you walk in.

Mr. C: But you get to see and experience what the teacher is actually like every day. The students as a whole have the most accurate understanding of what it is like to be in a teacher’s classroom. I also knew that kids have the most accurate picture of what it is like to experience a parent. You see, anyone who is in authority or has a position of power likely starts to suffer from the “toxic tandem.”

Student :Toxic tandem?

Mr. C: Essentially when you are the boss in a business, in a classroom, or even at home, you pay less attention to your underlings, listen less, become less empathic, become more certain that you know more than them, and are more likely to justify unethical behavior.

Student: Power corrupts.

Mr. C: It indeed can.

Student :But what’s the tandem?

Mr. C: Oh you combine that with the fact that your underlings pay more attention to your actions and often see you more clearly than you see them. For example, in a classroom, there might be 20–30 kids in a classroom that a teacher has to divide their attention amongst, but there is only one teacher. I am sure all the students are more likely to notice when the teacher is in a bad mood than the teacher is to notice a particular student’s mood.

Student: Dude, that is so true. Say less. Like it is so obvious when Mrs. Wimberly is in a bad mood. She tries to act like everything is ok, but some days you just know she is going to jump on people a bit more or is just going to have less patience for nonsense. She’s a really nice person though, but we all wonder what makes like that sometimes.”

Mr. C: But back to the original question. I just figured the best people to ask about what great teachers did and what I should avoid doing would be students. And since I have always had a good rapport with students, they would end up talking to me about frustrations at home. I realized I could gather information about what to avoid doing as a parent and what worked as a parent. Very early on I knew I wanted to be a parent who maintained a good relationship with my kids while also helping them through the rough patches of life.

Student: I see. So it was selfish. Mannnnn, Mr. C. That is messed up.

Mr. C: HEHEH. Well, you know me as an administrator. You have seen me with teachers, students, and parents. You’ve even seen me as a father because you know my kids. You can assess if it’s been completely selfish or has also benefited my leadership.

Student: No, for sure it makes you who you are. That’s why students like to be called into these interviews and you actually listen to everyone. And all the teachers respect you a lot; at least they say they do. Even if you sometimes make bad decisions about dress code. HEHEHE. Just saying. You are legit.

Mr. C: HEHE. And it is the result of that listening, reflecting, and practicing over the years that I try to share with teachers, parents, and students. I have surveyed and interviewed teachers as well for the last 12 years just like I do the students. Same thinking. It helps make me a better principal. A better person.

Student: So doing this interview I am contributing to the professional development of Mr. C and the wisdom of the entire school?

Mr. C: Yes. For sure.

Student: Dude, but how do you give parenting advice? Parents are different right? Parents have different parenting styles based on their cultures. Because a lot of student anxiety is about teachers and grades, but it is also parent stuff too.

Mr. C:That is true to some extent. I never tell a parent how they should raise their child. If a parent asks for advice I might make a suggestion. But I was actually surprised that between the kids I taught in public schools in Texas in 2001 to kids in our school here in Saudi Arabia, they say pretty much the same things about how good parents are most helpful to them.

Student: That’s crazy. I wouldn’t have expected that.

Mr. C: Most people wouldn’t. I didn’t. But what’s been most powerful for me has been interviewing over 2000 students from over 100 different countries starting in 2001 until today…..kids tend to say the same things about what makes a great teacher, a great student, and great parent. The consistencies are what I am always writing about in my weekly messages to you all.

Student: Dude, that’s next level wisdom. You should sell that. Well..wait let’s see if my answers are the same. Ok I’m ready. Let’s do this.

Mr.C: Alright let’s make it happen. First question….