Big World, Big Problems

I drafted this some weeks ago for a meeting in Hawaii (someone has to do this job) in anticipation of being asked a question about issues facing international schools. My responses was to be based in part on the findings of John Littleford ~ see below. However, all this was before the meltdown in the financial markets which will surely add a few more problems for schools world-wide. The State of Hawaii announced two weeks ago (while we were there for the meeting) that it would be cutting $50m from its educational budget and eliminating some 150 teaching jobs before winter.

Once in awhile something arrives in the mail that is good ~ very good. And how often does it relate to your work or profession? Seldom ~ if ever.

So imagine my surprise some weeks ago when a mailing arrives (not an emailing but a postal mailing) that has nothing to do with buying another credit card but addresses the current issues in independent (US) and international education.

The author of the newsletter is none other than John Littleford, a well-known consultant who knows his way around the world of education. John spent much of last year talking to the Executive Directors of independent and international school associations and came up with a list of the most compelling issues facing schools now and in the future. Independent (US) schools and international schools have some common ground (and many differences, too).

Here’s John’s website if you want to get to know him and here are the results, too:

http://www.jlittleford.com/

1) Governance
2) Proprietary Owners
3) Head/Leadership Shortages
4) Recruiting Faculty (especially internationally)
5) Corporate models applied to schools (transferring the assumptions doesn’t work)
6) Increasing popularity and cost of the International Baccalaureate Program (IBO)
7) Assisting Board Chairs (positively in understanding their roles)
8) Weakening Dollar
9) Emerging Technologies
10) Safety & Security