Weekly Journal 10-31-00

Section 1:  Preparation for class

Reading for class preparation this week consisted of chapter 16 in the Reader and the introduction through chapter 3 in A Failure of Nerve.  In the Readers  "Gender and Race as Factors in Educational Leadership and Administration" it was discussed how gender and race affects possibilities for positions in leadership for women and people of color.  The introduction in A Failure of Nerve dealt with the problem and suggestions that would be spoken to throughout the book.  Chapter 1 discussed Imaginative Gridlock and the Spirit of Adventure.  In this section, Friedman discusses the Renaissance and the explorers of that period and compared the time that came before the renaissance to what is happening in society today.  Chapter 2 discusses characteristics of chronically anxious personal families.  These characteristics include Reactivity, Herding, Blame displacement, A quick-fix mentality, and Lack of well-differentiated leadership.  Finally chapter 2 also discusses societal regression dealing with improvements such as Self-regulation of instinctual drive, Adaptation to strength rather than weakness, A growth-producing response to challenge, Allowing time for maturing processes to evolve, and The preservation of individuality and integrity.

Section 2:  Reflections

In reflecting on what I have read, I find it extremely interesting what Friedman says concerning the reframing of questions.  It makes tremendous sense to me that this is the only way to get out of the mindset we may be "stuck" in.  If we do not reframe the question, how can we find solutions that are outside our traditional way of thinking? 

Another reflection is that the stuckness that Friedman speaks about may be necessary in order for our society to progress.  This period of stuckness existed before the renaissance so its existence may signal the approach of another.

Section 3:  Applications

I will try to apply some of these ideas immediately.  For example, when I am confronted with a problem and cannot find an answer, I will attempt to reframe the question in hopes of generating more responses.  I believe that If I reframe the question I am working on into a much more general concept I may be able to remove many of the traditional gridlocks concerning that questions.

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