Written by Terry Huyck
I was talking (tweeting) Mark Burns tonight and he mentioned the idea of challenging existing formats and practices. Then someone tweeted the image above – this quote reads: Major General Grace Hopperimage source: globalnerdy.com–I was so happy that I saved it as a favorite and wrote a blog about it.
The phrase “we’ve always done it this way” suggests heritage or tradition, and that can be a good thing. But it’s also one of the most dangerous phrases we can use, and this danger extends to education as well.
I often talk about disruptive education and paradigm shifts in teaching and learning, not because I am inherently rebellious or some kind of academic anarchist. I’ve been teaching long enough in different places to realize that this idea of progress and slow iteration through data and sharing and “opening the classroom door” is not enough.
That’s not a bad thing, it just doesn’t reflect the priorities and urgency of our collective challenges. At best, students come to school to play games and come across as smart and successful. At worst, they see no value in what they’re doing, so they get confused, resist, and just get on with the year.
We have to create laws that force students to come to school. And it is often the students who need school that are not “made” for it. In other words, schools are designed for literate students who can manage their own work while learning to play well with others.
Changes in lives usually come not through the power of curriculum, but through relationships with teachers. But talking about mobile learning, self-directed learning, new content areas, adaptive learning, or emphasizing questions over answers can ruin conversations at school and elicit polite smiles from teachers. The main reason is that they are not the rules of the game that the teacher knows.
The problem with a safe approach to education is that it doesn’t bring us anything other than what we’ve always had. Unless we do something radically different, the most we can expect is some kind of increase. This is not a plea against confusion, but the courage to make mistakes.
The phrase “we’ve always done it this way” symbolizes stagnant thinking and resistance to innovation, a desire to question established methods and consider new ideas. It reflects that there is no This mindset often stifles creativity, limits progress, and stunts growth by clinging to outdated practices simply because they are familiar.
It can also create an environment where change is seen as a threat rather than an opportunity for improvement, discouraging individuals from challenging the status quo or seeking alternative solutions. Over time, this adherence to tradition can lead to missed opportunities, reduced efficiency, and a lack of adaptability in a rapidly evolving world. To foster innovation and continuous improvement, it’s important to replace this mindset with one that values flexibility, embraces change, and encourages a forward-looking approach.
To “experiment” on students (which is already happening anyway). Dream, take on challenges, and collect data.
Why not try something different this year?
You don’t necessarily have to do what you’re told, and without thinking.
Illuminate a new path.
Creatively, professionally, and tenaciously, instigate your department, grade level, school, or district to become not only the best version of their existing selves, but something they never thought possible. Let it become something else.
You have the same hopes for your students.
The most dangerous words in education
