Over the past few weeks, I have attempted to shed light on Dale Partridge’s book People Over Profit through a different lens. If you have missed any post, you can read People Matter, 10 Ways To Be A Person Over Profit, and Purpose Over Profit.
I am a high school teacher and like feedback during class. In that spirit, let’s imagine today that we are in an interactive virtual class. Select one of your favorite movies and focus on the main character (protagonist/leader), or the character in the film who stood out the most to you. I am a teacher and love the film Lean On Me starring Morgan Freeman, who plays the character of Principal Joe Clark. In the film, Freeman plays a no-nonsense high school principal who is determined to turn his school around. As an example of how to apply film analysis to real life, I have answered the following questions based on the film.
Today’s assignment: Answer the following questions based on your view of the character. Let’s go!
Question 1: What do you believe were the fundamental elements of character, the values or code of ethics the leader in your film exemplified?
- Hard work
- Determination
- Perseverance
- Authenticity
- Impatience
Question 2-A: Select one dilemma or issue your protagonist/leader dealt with.
Mr. Clark decided to chain lock the school doors after there was intrusion at Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey. Unfortunately, the movie is a bit vague as to how the intruder got inside the school. Murmurs from the students in the cafeteria suggest it was with another student’s aid. After a brief scuffle with the student, the intruder was reprimanded and taken into custody by school security. Upon this revelation, Clark instructed security to chain lock all school doors to deter outside violence from entering the school, and in order to encourage a safe and orderly environment.
Question 2-A: How did his values or code of ethics help or hinder the decision-making process in the example you selected?
Clark’s values were hindered in this decision-making process. Lack of funding was part of the sum of the factors as to why he made the decision. The lack of funding combined with his impatience were a recipe for disaster. As much as we educators may desire to impact student lives, we must stop at practices that are illegal. Regardless of how noble and well-intended, flouting the law cannot tolerated.
Question 3: What course of action as a leader would YOU and your core values have taken in this particular case?
- I would have sought additional resources for personnel or equipment upon my arrival at Eastside. Whether human or physical, I believe there were many more options to explore beyond chaining the doors.
- One of Covey’s most profound principle statements in his text Principle-Centered Leadership suggests that we must work towards self-governance. Covey suggests that before one undertakes a job,“We clarify the desired results, the guidelines to work within, the resources to draw upon, the means of accountability, and the consequences of on-the-job performance (Covey, 1992, p. 194).” I am not certain how much risk calculation Clark did before accepting the lead role at Eastside. Existing school security and the resources available to support it should have been second on the list for Clark to have investigated, behind student academic data. This assessment may have given him a glimpse of the safety dilemma before he ever started.
Lean on Me was certainly an engaging movie, and one that caused watchers – particularly educators – to ask themselves questions about personal values and “how far is too far” to ensure safety of students. If such decisions were simple to make, they wouldn’t be called “dilemmas.” Wise leaders consider and learn from others who’ve faced similar issues, rather than proverbially reinventing the wheel each time we face a new situation (to us, for in fact, “there is nothing new under the sun”). But you bring up a good exercise, Dewitt, in helping readers realize that even movies, books and other media can be just as effective as “teachers” or catalysts for considering our personal values and possible approaches to problems, before we ever find ourselves faced with them.
I love this exercise, Dewitt. It encourages all of us to look at everything we watch and read, and then take lessons from them. We can learn from everything around us, including movies. I need to watch “Lean On Me”.
I think the most impactful statements on character and ethics I’ve heard was when Dr. Dwight Bain was talking about John Maxwell’s concept of there is no such thing as business ethics or personal life ethics. There is only ethics and either you have them or you don’t. It all boils down to trust. I think trust is probably the most important leadership characteristic there is. When you trust a leader you trust their ideas, you get on the bus and one of the reason why I’m reading Covey’s book Speed of Trust right now.
Thanks Dewitt.