Where Did All the Good People Go?
A popular French Philosopher, Alex de Tocqueville, visited America over a century ago and from his impressions of that tour he shared these words: "I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there; in her fertile fields and boundless prairies, and it was not there; in her rich mines and her vast world commerce, and it was not there. Not until I went to the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."
Transformative Leadership is a concept that has resonated with me recently. In order to produce positive changes, we must have "good" people. We need people who are willing to stand up for what is right. From this quote, I am not expressing that we need people who are religious and attend meetings with "pulpits aflame" but rather I want to emphasize the last sentence. The secret to a prosperous society is in the people. We need good people who will avoid corruption and hypocrisy like the plague and promote truth.
In the words of one of my favorite singer/songwriters Jack Johnson: "Where did all the good people go?" I believe that there are multitudes of good people but as the song continues, "I've been changing channels, I don't see them on the TV shows." I don't think anyone can argue with that. We need more examples of moral strength and I feel that is what transformative leadership is all about. That kind of leadership requires more than just knowing and doing things but becoming somebody. It is a way of life where you don't need to be asked to make a difference but you desire it because you are a leader.
That is what I am working on and I am grateful that we have groups/circles such as this website where we can come together to transform our circumstances giving us an opportunity to truly act rather than simply react. If anyone has any ideas/tips/help on becoming a better leader, I would love to hear them.
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Just like everyone else, I
Just like everyone else, I really enjoyed your blog, Grant. I think that everybody, from time to time, wonders where have all the good people gone. It seems at times that they are in fact hard to find, but really I think that instead of looking for good people, we should look for the goodness in people and try to draw it out. I can't just spend my days looking for good people. I need to live my life in such a way that it influences others and transforms them into "good people." I think that is one reason why I want to be a teacher. I want to see that inner goodness or whatever you want to call it, and draw it out. We as teachers, the ones who want good people in this world, need to create good people. We need to instill the values, morals, ethics, etc. that is considered good.
Well said
Grant, it starts with believing in them. Good people are out here and they're in all walks of life. I think you're dead on about the need for them and the effects and power of thinking like the Transformative Leadership we've been learning about and applying outside of the classroom. I know my group and I have really felt empowered through our efforts to educate more people about the need to feel more like a community of human beings and less motivated by personal gain and gratification but by a better life and society for all of us.
Keep working and keep the faith and don't forget to see the good and value in everyone! There's someone in there waiting for the opportunity to make a better world for themselves, their families, their community!
Very Nice Blog
I agree with this blog entirely. You have to start with the teachers or you won't affect the students. And the teachers have to want to make a difference, not just be there to be there. I love the last line that you were focusing on. It is the people that shape the country and the people in the following years that will shape our country are the students of today. So it becomes up to us and other new teachers coming out of school to make sure that students have that fire that they need to help keep the country on track. The students have the ability, we just need to encourage them to use it.
A Teachers Influence
Both of what ya'll said is exactly ehy I want to be a teacher. Students can't get a positive influence by watching television, hanging out on the streets, some of them can't even get it from home. That is why teachers are so powerful and influential. They shape the minds of future congressman, athletes, etc. SAH0618 I love the last sentence- students have the ability, we just need to encourage them to use it. If they are not being encouraged then their intellect is going to be wasted.
Hero
Grant, I really enjoy your blog. As for where all the good people have gone, they are still around. Most people do not draw peoples attention as much as bad people. As for being a leader... I am a swim coach, the best thing I've learned is to know that it is ok to be wrong once in awhile. Admit your mistakes. No leader is infalliable and the second that you think one can be you just proved your self falliable. Also, listening to other people with expierence helps alot. Thats just me speaking from my coaching expierences.
I also go to ECU and have
I also go to ECU and have this same Transformative leadership. I like the quote which you included in your post, I'm a English Ed major and I study all those in early American history that came from the ministry and went on to write masterpieces. I can recognize the fact that education grew out of the religious environment. But the teachers of today from varied backgrounds and this makes it all the better. When they do come from these places it makes our field dynamic and shows students a varied place of origin that can give us a face.
Wow your blog is quite the
Wow your blog is quite the piece there. Sometimes I often wonder that very same question myself but then I realize there are still SOME good people left in the world. Those teachers who strive to make a difference in their students and encourage them to be productive members of society, those people who stand up for what they believe is right against all odds, the individuals who go against the norms of society to prove valid points about the flaws with in them, and those close personal friends and family you may have who stay true to you...
-Ashley W.W.
Remember: A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you have (-Barry Goldwater)
Good people
This is true. I've often wondered what happened to all the good people. I feel that there is good in everyone, but they sometimes choose not to reveal it. One of our goals as teachers should possibly to bring out the positive/good in our students, and maybe this will help bring about "good" people.
The more I look at what our group is working on, the more passionate I've become about it. The survey we are doing has also opened the door to discuss many things with teachers who are currently in the field. If nothing else comes out of the project, I'm glad we can get the chance to talk to other teachers.
Grant
Grant Jones,
Your article is very inspiring and I completely understand you. If we want things in this world to change we can never do this without having honest, caring and hardworking people. Isn’t everyone good in some aspect? Or do some people choose not to be a good person. In my opinion that is a hard question to understand. I feel as if I do have a huge heart. I want to help people and I want to make a difference in this world. So many people seem to care yet they are only doing nice things for the attention or the fame. You will never find good people if you’re always looking. It is when your not looking when you notice the true and honest people around you. Many of these people are always around us yet we just never notice. I am very impressed with your article!
transformative leardership
I just wanted to say that I agree with you in regards to the transformative leadership project. I think it is an amazing idea because it forces us to look at our own school/education and come up with a way to improve it. My one dream in life is to make a difference in someones life which is also one of the major reasons I want to be a teacher. This project I believe is helping us to make a difference to think for ourselves and stand up for what we think is right. Maybe Jack Johnson isn't looking in the right place for the good people. They certainly cannot be found on tv nor in politics. Good people are all around us we just need to take the time to notice the small things that make people good.