Culture Making, Pancakes, and a New Principal

Five years ago I borrowed a copy of Andy Crouch's Culture Making from a friend. The book explores the ways people of faith have impacted culture throughout history. Its pages survey art, architecture, history, and religion. I enjoyed reading the book and discussing its ideas with my wife and friends. Five years later, after completing my first year as a principal, I can't help but reflect on the ways the book influenced my view of leadership.

Here are four takeaways from the book that are worth considering.

1.) We should all be engaged in the act of making, not criticizing, culture.
2.) Real culture making occurs at the level of individual relationships.
3.) The most valuable culture making is motivated by concern for, and a desire to elevate, the most vulnerable.
4.) Food is important. Crouch's love of omelettes and lentils serve as personal illustrations of his micro level culture making.

I'm often guilty of stretching intellectual arguments for activities that are mostly for fun, but I think Culture Making justifies one of my favorite practices, making chocolate chip pancakes to celebrate the achievements, large and small, of students.  Favorite breakfasts include new students and the students who made special efforts to make them feel welcome. My vision of an effective school is one that functions much like a family. I'm not sure how effective I am at steering culture school wide, but I hope the pancake breakfasts help point the rudder in the right direction.

Many voices offer advice to school leaders on shaping culture. Culture Making places the need for culture makers in a broader historical context, making the work even more essential. Crouch, who holds a Master of Divinity from Boston University, makes the case in a way that is intellectually and spiritually stimulating. 

Why I Love Quiz Bowl

I've always been a fan of quiz bowl, but my appreciation has been growing for more than a few reasons.

First, while I love the passion and enthusiasm of fans at sporting events, it's a little refreshing to be at a contest where the spectators are required to be silent.

Secondly, the qualities that make for a good quiz bowl competitor are in short supply in our culture. A good quiz bowler has to know stuff. Increasingly our society seems to reject the idea that it is helpful to know facts. More and more we reward ignorance from folks who enjoy putting their ignorance on full display. Also, a good quiz bowler needs to be curious. Curiosity is a trait that is in short supply. In spite of the level of ignorance, we see folks rising in prominence who apparently believe they know it all. A dedicated quiz bowler is constantly seeking to increase their knowledge. More than anything, I appreciate quiz bowl because in quiz bowl knowledge is power. Correct answers and correct answers only score points, and while I do know of an instance of a fourteen year old girl bullying a judge into giving her a point, volume and bravado are typically not rewarded.

I have hopes that our society will self correct and begin to value knowledge and competency over ignorance and noise, but at the rate we are going there may be too few knowledgeable and competent folks left.

A time may soon come when quiz bowlers are society's only hope.