Critical Annotation:
Evans, R. (2001). The human side of school change: Reform, resistance, and the real-life problems of innovation. San Francisco, Jossey Bass.
Text Purpose:
This book is a study of school reform and the real-life challenges that face school systems across the United States. The first three chapters discuss and review the way individuals perceive change and how that perception forms the culture in schools. By examining the history of the school reform movement, the author provides insight into the mistakes organizations have made in attempting to improve school systems. The next five chapters discuss the dimensions of change within schools and a framework is introduced to accomplish change. The final chapters present …show more content…
A major problem, and consequently why we have an implementation gap, is the lack of training and experience in organizational development and innovation for school administrators. These are the individuals who are responsible for the implementation of school reform processes and procedures within our education system. In order to improve their schools, leaders must have the skills, knowledge, and training necessary to carry out this innovation. When reform models often fail, the blame is placed on teachers or the person responsible for implementing the change, rather than on the design model itself. Implementation of these models is often without consideration of how teachers will receive or respond to them. Teacher responses depend heavily on the abilities of the leader to make a case for the innovation or change, to emphasize the seriousness of a current problem, and to find the rightness of the solution. During this process teachers will view this change or innovation as a loss, causing a kind of bereavement, threatening one’s sense of competence, sprouting confusion and unpredictability, thus creating
Evans, R. (2001). The human side of school change: Reform, resistance, and the real-life problems of innovation. San Francisco, Jossey Bass.
Text Purpose:
This book is a study of school reform and the real-life challenges that face school systems across the United States. The first three chapters discuss and review the way individuals perceive change and how that perception forms the culture in schools. By examining the history of the school reform movement, the author provides insight into the mistakes organizations have made in attempting to improve school systems. The next five chapters discuss the dimensions of change within schools and a framework is introduced to accomplish change. The final chapters present …show more content…
A major problem, and consequently why we have an implementation gap, is the lack of training and experience in organizational development and innovation for school administrators. These are the individuals who are responsible for the implementation of school reform processes and procedures within our education system. In order to improve their schools, leaders must have the skills, knowledge, and training necessary to carry out this innovation. When reform models often fail, the blame is placed on teachers or the person responsible for implementing the change, rather than on the design model itself. Implementation of these models is often without consideration of how teachers will receive or respond to them. Teacher responses depend heavily on the abilities of the leader to make a case for the innovation or change, to emphasize the seriousness of a current problem, and to find the rightness of the solution. During this process teachers will view this change or innovation as a loss, causing a kind of bereavement, threatening one’s sense of competence, sprouting confusion and unpredictability, thus creating