Culture by Design: The Discovery Process as a New Way for Schools

A 2022 Gallup poll reveals that 55% of American parents are dissatisfied with their children's schools, while a 2022 CDC survey shows that 44% of high school students feel persistent sadness or hopelessness, with 9% admitting to attempting suicide. Malcolm Gauld proposes a solution to address this issue by prioritizing attitude, effort, and character over aptitude, ability, and talent. The book suggests a blueprint for implementing this shift, starting with a thorough examination of school cultures and introducing the Discovery Process, a dynamic program for improving school culture aligned with national SEL standards.

Format: Hardback
Length: 164 pages
Publication date: 31 July 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

An eye-opening 2022 Gallup poll reveals that a significant majority (55%) of American parents express dissatisfaction with the schools their children attend. Additionally, a 2022 CDC survey of 7,705 high school students found that 44% of them experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, with 9% admitting to having attempted suicide. With 45 years of teaching experience and leadership in schools, Malcolm Gauld provides a candid assessment of the current educational landscape: "We care more about what they can do than who they are, and they know it." The solution lies in a fundamental shift in priorities, where schools prioritize attitude over aptitude, effort over ability, and character over talent. This book offers a comprehensive blueprint for achieving this transformation. The first step involves school leaders taking a deep and honest look at the quality of their school's culture. The author emphasizes that every school has a culture, whether it is intentionally designed or not. After a thorough exploration of the nature of culture, the author introduces and describes a dynamic school culture improvement program called the Discovery Process. This program, which aligns with national social and emotional learning (SEL) standards, is presented as a practical approach to creating a culture of excellence. The author highlights the importance of understanding the current culture, identifying desired outcomes, and implementing targeted interventions to achieve the desired culture. The Discovery Process involves a series of steps, including conducting surveys, analyzing data, and engaging stakeholders in the process. The author emphasizes the importance of involving all members of the school community, including students, teachers, parents, and administrators, in the culture-building process. The book also provides practical strategies for implementing the Discovery Process, such as creating a culture committee, providing training and support, and monitoring progress. Throughout the book, the author shares inspiring stories of schools that have successfully implemented the Discovery Process and experienced positive changes in their culture. These stories demonstrate the transformative power of prioritizing culture and the positive impact it can have on student outcomes. However, the author also acknowledges the challenges that schools may face in implementing the Discovery Process, such as resistance to change, limited resources, and cultural differences. The book offers guidance on addressing these challenges and provides examples of successful strategies for overcoming them. In conclusion, An Eye-Opening 2022 Gallup poll and a 2022 CDC survey highlight the dissatisfaction of American parents with their children's schools and the prevalence of mental health issues among high school students. Malcolm Gauld offers a solution to this problem by advocating for a shift in priorities that values attitude over aptitude, effort over ability, and character over talent. The book provides a comprehensive blueprint for achieving this transformation through the Discovery Process, a dynamic school culture improvement program aligned with national SEL standards. The author emphasizes the importance of understanding the current culture, identifying desired outcomes, and implementing targeted interventions to create a culture of excellence. The book also shares inspiring stories of schools that have successfully implemented the Discovery Process and experienced positive changes in their culture. However, the author also acknowledges the challenges that schools may face in implementing the Discovery Process and provides guidance on addressing these challenges. Overall, An Eye-Opening 2022 Gallup poll and a 2022 CDC survey highlight the need for a shift in priorities that values attitude over aptitude, effort over ability, and character over talent. The book offers a comprehensive blueprint for achieving this transformation through the Discovery Process, a dynamic school culture improvement program aligned with national SEL standards. The author's candid assessment of the current educational landscape and practical strategies for implementing the Discovery Process make this book a valuable resource for educators and school leaders seeking to create a culture of excellence in their schools.

Weight: 386g
Dimension: 237 x 157 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781475872378