Many stay silent in the face of injustice. They simply grin and bear it. I'm not one to do that. I believe in fair, just, open, and transparent systems.
Even in small matters, I want truth and justice to reign. I understand that people err and mistakes and accidents happen. Perfection is not attainable. Yet I believe it's best to take a hard look at issues to make situations better, more streamlined, and just. We can't just sit back and wish positive change. Instead we have to work for it.
That's why I continue to look for ways to better and improve the teaching/learning program. I look for avenues where we can make our programming more culturally proficient. academically challenging, engaging, empowering, inclusive, fun, and meaningful. Typically I regularly assess what we are doing and how we can do it better. Hence, I'm always in a state of making change, and change doesn't come easy because change challenges existing systems, efforts, and expectations. Change demands a closer look and often creates mistakes and messiness too.
In places that welcome change, messiness, mistakes, passion, and debate are welcome, but in places that don't welcome or embrace change, the spirit and energy that moves with change is also not welcome. So how do we grow our systems and work in places that don't embrace, welcome, or support change--what do we do?
As I think about this, I think it's important to understand what the expectations are? Specifically for me that means understanding if the organization supports and embraces the use of grants, field studies, special visitors, special events, new programming, modern tools, and new resources--where is there room and support for this, and where is this not welcome. I need to understand this well so I move my work and energy in ways that make a positive difference.
I also need to clearly understand what is considered just and what is considered unjust. What are the primary goals and what are the secondary goals? What is expected and what is not expected?
I believe that people should speak up in the face of injustice, and I also believe that sometimes to understand what is just and what is not requires thoughtful dialogue and meaningful goal setting. Often injustice finds its roots in confusion, misunderstanding, differences of opinion and diverse directions. I'll think more on this topics in days to come.
