Outlearning the Wolves

Who ever thought that a simple book about sheep and wolves could unveil the benefits of a learning organization. Outlearning the Wolves: Surviving and Thriving in a Learning Organization is such a book. Through the sheep characters, David Hutchens is able to communicate the benefit and the power the comes with the concept of questioning the status quo. According to nature the wolf eats the sheep and the sheep accept their fate. However, Otto, one of the new sheep, began to question why the wolf had to eat the sheep. Otto began to question among the other sheep and encouraged other sheep to challenge the status quo of the sheep eating wolf. Although Otto died well before his time, he planted the seed of asking questions and seeking out the answer. Marietta, one of the sheep who took his word to heart, gathered the sheep together to resolve the issue of the wolf eatting the sheep. Through the efforts of many members of the flock they discovered why the wolf kills more sheep during the dry season than in the rainy season. Together they devised and executed a plan to solve the issue of the wolves coming into their pasture and taking a sheep for their dinner. In the end, the sheep became a "learning flock".

MY TWO AND A HALF CENTS:

I love parables. The more simple they are the more I tend to benefit from them. The first page of this book only had four words - "This is a wolf." My kind of book! :)

The message is simple: No matter who you are in life, you can outlearn the wolves.

Years ago in the education field our opperating montra was "life long learners". After reading this business management type book the term life-long learners made a little more sense to me. In education and in life we often set in our ways. If the child is failing or if I am failing I all to often blow it off due to variables outside of my direct influence. David Hutchens encourages his readers to challenge the barriers (percieved or real) and ask questions from every angle. Just because someone says it can not be done, doesn't mean it can not be done. In my younger years it was rare that I questioned anyone. If I was told it could not be done or I was not permitted to do it or you will never be able to do it I would accept my fate and walk away. It wasn't until I was encouraged to ask questions and challenge the status quo. Why can't I earn an A? Why can't I become a teacher? Why can't I be an administrator? Why can't all children learn? What barriers are preventing our EL students from mastering ELA standards? What steps do we need to take in order to improve our API score and AYP status? Collectively questioning, seeking answers, adapting, implementing, and revising ones plan are variables on a learning organization. It is my hope that I remain and finetune my life long learning skills. It is my hope that all organizations I work in question the status quo, collect data, generate plans based on data, implement the plan, and then continue to revisit and revise. A person or a group of people who are constantly looking for ways to learn and better themselves (personally or professionally) will always be in the front. These are the leaders who take organizations into places others have only dreamed of. Here's to the Otto's in the world.