How much does an individual matter in an aggregate of many differing opinions and perspectives?
Nationally, locally, departmentally...even if the outcome is not as one wishes, a vote matters.
There is a notion that there is justice and that deserving people get what they should. There is a notion that if you try hard enough, anything is possible. Not true.
But even so, participation matters. The effort is worthwhile, and there will be like-minded folk with whom to commiserate. You will have earned the right to say, I did my part and I did vote for the other side. You can look at your opponents, and if they played fair, shrug it off and chalk it off to a difference of opinion.
The department had a vote on whether or not to make votes secret. I voted for open ballots. Secret ballots won over. There were arguments on both sides...as tends to happen. There seemed to be a widening schism between a sense of needing to be able to vote in private without fear or repercussions, and keeping an open and accountable body. The secret won out over the open 2 to 1.
Given the way some have acted, I can say maybe it's good that they'll be secret. Not for the reason of intimidation that junior faculty may feel...but exactly for this- that there are a bunch of sore losers.
Because it has become apparent that a vote is not just a vote. Some take these things so personally and seem to say- if you don't agree with my choice of [political party, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, football team, my aye or nay] then you must not like me.
I am amazed at the degree of hurt some take. Individuals who would live and let live in regards to more sweeping and deeper differences--professed liberals will hold grudges and nurse perceived slights in miniscule tempests of point-counterpoint.
As draining as some meetings are, the debriefing afterwards are worse. Speculations about motivations and ill-will. Name calling. People have their reasons. Talkin' shit. They're blowing off steam. This is how it's done.
I was talking to B last week. I go to him for counsel often. He's a good guy, and has been 'round long enough to know the deal. His take? You discuss. You vote. You abide by the decision. (Shrug). You have your opinion and at the end of the day you still have your opinion.
I like that.
I voted my conscience--diid what I thought was the right thing. And that is the best that one can do in any given day, any given moment. The individual decides whether or not the external will erode that or not. At the end of the day, it is what it is.
Posted by weez at January 14, 2004 08:27 AM | TrackBackBest Principal I ever worked under had lengthy staff meetings. Any decision that needed to be made that would effect the school and/or our jobs was one she brought to the staff to discuss and decide on. Meetings were contentious and difficult, at times, but it was clear who stood on which side of the fence.
This build a level of trust and working reliance upon people who shared your own viewpoint. It was the bedrock upon which the movement to remove that principal's replacement was born from.
While a necessary movement, it created a schizm in the faculty that never was resolved.
Personally, I like the open vote. At least you know who is thinking what.
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Posted by: fivecats at January 14, 2004 01:03 PM