This song allows us to give voice to all committees -- and to honor that rare committee that can work it out.
Committee work can be deeply satisfying -- a successful collaborative effort that takes into account all points of view and reaches a consensus on important issues. Or it can be maddeningly frustrating -- with personalities taking over, voices silenced, time wasted, and bad snacks on top of it all. Heres to the rare committee that can work it out.
Try to see it my way,
I will simply keep on talking till I wear you out.
We can look at your way,
But I have to tell you that Im right without a doubt.
We can duke it out.
We can work it out.
Maybe you could listen
To what others say; you always think you know it all.
We have tried to say things,
Talking to yous just like we are talking to a wall.
We cant work it out.
We cant work it out.
Meetings are the bane of our ex-i-ii-i-stence.
Theres too much talking, my friend.
Talking at each other makes no se-e-e-e-ense,
So must we do it again?
Where is the agenda?
Have we planned our points; do we have snacks; do we have goals?
We can talk for hours,
Do we know who will facilitate and other roles?
We should plan it out,
We should plan it out.
Im the one whos silent,
Cause I need more time to process thoughts before I speak.
So the words race by me,
But Ill be ready to contribute by next week.
I can wait it out,
I can wait it out.
Meetings could be very satisfy-y-y-y-ing,
If we agreed on some things.
Therere a few things that we could be try-yy-y-ing,
And we could see what they bring.
We could weigh all viewpoints.
We could speak in turn, one at a time, and not too long.
We could listen closely.
We could not assume what others say is always wrong.
We can work it out.
We can work it out.
We could see it our way,
If wed each agree that we could see beyond our nose.
When we see it our way,
We could all agree and come out smelling like a rose.
We can work it out.
We can work it out.
Click here to return to the Education World Columnists archive page.
Article by Eric Baylin
Education World®
Copyright © 2009 Education World
04/28/09
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Click here to return to the Education World Columnists archive page.
Article by Eric Baylin
Education World®
Copyright © 2008 Education World
09/30/08
 |
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