It's Best Not To Confuse

Ambiguity (2008)

I was recently reminded that when district leadership works feverishly on small, inconsequential control issues it does so in order to avoid having to address systemic issues related to leadership, organization, practices and policy.  This person said, "It gives the illusion of getting tough, when getting smart was actually needed." It made me pause and consider the inherent danger in confusing one thing with another. Then Will Richardson posted, Easier vs Better and again I thought about the dichotomies it might be best to uncouple.

With that in mind, here's a list of things it is best not to confuse:

1. technician with teacher
2. standardization with excellence
3. testing with achievement
4. manager with principal-teacher
5. authority with leadership
6. compliance with agreement
7. method (any really) with innovation
8. scripted instruction with teaching
9. National Standards with individual standards
10. professional development with professional learning
11. pacing with depth
12. assigning with occasioning
13. measurement with outcome
14. data with story
15. technology with technique
16. attending meetings with distributed leadership
17. 'best' practices with experience
18. test preparation with curriculum
19. efficiency with excellence
20. explicit content with ways of knowing
21. mission statement with vision
22. schooling with learning
23. being busy with solving problems
24. production with value
25. control with self organization
26. grading with response
27. mandates with choice
28. telling & directing with empathy 
29. content learning with disciplinary knowledge
30. answering with agency
31. student with learner

Feel free to add to the list...