MAC_Week 2, Reading: The Art of Possibility, Give Yourself an A!

MAC Wk 2 Blog Repsonse - Debra Patsel

MAC_Week 2, Reading: The Art of Possibility, Give Yourself an A!

As I was reading this book, I was pleased to find validity in what my practice has always been with my special education class. I have never felt comfortable grading anyone, especially special education students.

As stated in the book, “…it would be pointless to compare one child to another.” Zander, R. S., & Zander, B. (2000). “An A transports your relationships from the world of measurement into the universe of possibility.” I truly believe in the universe of possibility. I wouldn’t be able to teach my student’s that have so many challenges if I didn’t believe that.


On top of the cognitive issues my students have, they are living in an urban situation with shootings, drugs, and poverty. Most have developed emotional issues and their parents aren’t versed in parenting basics, or they may be in jail or have abandoned their child.

With all of this to overcome, I don’t want them to have to “measure-up”. I have always started the year with telling the students that they all are at the same place, they are on top and I view them as being great people and wonderful students. They all get an A to start and the only way to change that is to be disrespectful to others, curse too much, fight, not care about doing the work, and not trying to work.

If they are all trying to do the best that they can, I can’t make a judgment on a scale of someone else’s idea of what is correct. Even when the students have very, very low abilities, I have to find their strengths and build on that to improve their self-esteem. I accept them where they are that day and allow them to be who they are and move on at their pace.

I don’t believe in benchmarks that my district has pushed on everyone. Everyone learns at a different pace and everyone reaches different developmental milestones at different ages. If they haven’t reached their milestone, they are not ready to move on to the next level no matter what a system says.

Since everyone is very unique we take pride in our differences and strive to become an interesting little family.

Sources: Book: Zander, R. S., & Zander, B. (2000) The art of possibility. Boston, Mass: Harvard Business School Press.

Image: Microsoft Office Clipart; MP900385724 & MP900431702

Debbie,
I applaud your philosophy of teaching. It sounds like the Zanders could have interviewed you for some stories to place in their book. I wish more people in educational leadership read this book and shared in its philosophy. I believe our education system would be much improved if it functioned in this regard.  I don't teach "special education" labeled students all day,  but I believe we are all special, with our own set of idiosyncrasies for learning and should be treated as such. I can understand your classroom through my wife's stories and experience in her career and I know what type of commitment and service you are providing to your students. Keep providing them a universe of possibility.