"Expectations versus Inspections"

What does a hand in a White Glove have to do with the Subject of this Blog? Anyone who has ever been in any branch of the Military certainly knows what the phrase "Ready for a White Glove Inspection" means.

Way back during my Navy career when I was a Chief Petty Officer (a.k.a. E-7) on a certain ship in 1978 we Chiefs in the CPO Mess were quite proud of our standards of cleanliness in the galley where our assigned Mess Cook prepared our meals. Although the area was very small, room for one person to work we never had any concerns about the cleanliness of our food preparation area. When I say small room, I am sure that you must know that on a Destroyer type ship that the Chief's Galley was about six feet by eight feet. This area had all the appliances you would find in a home, although they did meet industrial standards.

One day the the Admiral came aboard to conduct an inspection. We were ready. We knew we were on top of our game. The Admiral entered the Mess in the prescribed khaki uniform. He immediately donned his white coveralls and proceeded to the Galley. Our Mess Cook presented the space and proudly stated that the Chief's Galley was Ready for Inspection. The Admiral dismissed the Mess Cook and then proceeded to get on his Hands and Knees and with his white gloves on proceeded to rub the terrazzio floor under the refrigerator. He pulled his white glove clad hand out and immediately waved through the Galley Door with the greasy white glove, looking anything but white.

I will never forget what he stated for all of us to hear: "Gentlemen, you get what you inspect, not expect." Of course, we all learned a valuable lesson that day.

I recalled the above situation this morning as I contemplated the TNT Movie that I had viewed on Sunday Evening, August 13th. The title was "The Ron Clark Story," and the the most important message I received from the presentation was very familiar to me. This educator went from last to first and his mantra was "Have High Expectations and the Students will Rise to a High Level." For those who have not heard of the Ron Clark Story, please check it out on the Internet. However a brief summary is: This educator took a teaching job in a depressed school system in New York City. He did not have to. He had a very rewarding career in a much more pleasant environment. However, He saw an opportunity to truly make a difference. As I indicated above, he took a class from last to first in the period of one year by having standards much higher than anyone deemed achievable. He did it. He did more than what a normal teacher would do, to be sure, but he did it.

Indeed, He received what his expectations demanded. He achieved the standards and the goals he set out for his class. I believe that we can all rise to the situation at hand. For too long we have expected fair to average performance and we have sold future generations of citizens short. We have sold the future of our United States of America short. We all know and actually most realize that we can do better. Are we ready as a society to raise the bar, so to speak and expect dynamic performance from our schools. Mr. Clark made learning fun without compromising the goals and standards he set for this class. His Book, "The Essential 55" should be a must read for all the educators and education managers in our United States of America.

In fact, I would recommend that any adult who has appropriate expectations for their own Children or Grand-Children, to please give this book serious consideration by obtaining a copy today and reading it.

Should you desire additional information about this concerned and caring educator, please visit this link:

http://www.ronclark.info/About_Ron_Clark/

I believe that we can do more. We certainly should not do any less. All adults need to emulate Mr. Ron Clark as we all conduct appropriate interface with the youth of America. Here is a quote from the above Web Site regarding his program in a school he is opening in Atlanta, Georgia; and I quote:

"Most recently, Ron is devoting the majority of his time to opening a school in Atlanta for students from low-wealth areas. The Ron Clark Academy will truly be unique as it applies a curriculum that is based on travel around the world. Each year the students will journey on international adventures, and by the time they are in 8th grade each child will have visited every continent."

Some may consider this a lofty goal, and indeed it is. However if you did view the show on TV you will also know that Ron Clark pulled off a miracle in a very depressed New York City School System school in just one year. I believe that miracles do happen. I also believe that our whole country needs and will also appreciate a miracle happening in our educational systems across our whole United States of America.

Thank You for taking the time today to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest this rather long Blog