Cognitive Dissonance Is...
Cognitive dissonance is a phenomenon that occurs when what is supposed to happen doesn't happen.
For over 18 months I have been consistently advocating that every person that enters our campus have a picture identification card prominently displayed. For months it has appeared that these issues have gone all but unnoticed and unheeded.
Now we haven't had many incidents on our campus, but we have had a few. Some of the incidents were fights between students. Some incidents involved theft. We have had a few odd visitors to our campus, as well as several homeless persons living in our trash dumpster. But, as a former security and facilities manager for a major corporation, I have been advocating from the position of prevention.
Evidently the managers at this campus decided to implement the policy of requiring all students to have an ID badge prominently displayed at all times. They refused to implement a further step of the policy that says any person without an ID badge is asked to leave the campus. The managers decided it would not be necessary for faculty and staff to have an ID badge until some unspecified time in the future.
So far so good. I can live with the slow progression and move toward better safety. But the managers decided that this new approach to safety must be implemented immediately. The person assigned to take the pictures and create the ID badges was instructed to interrupt classes and "get the job done." No discussion or notice was given to faculty members so that the process could be appropriately scheduled and faculty members could tweak their class activities to adjust to this process.
Cognitive dissonance is a phenomenon that occurs when what is supposed to happen doesn't happen.
I have told my bosses that there are specific fire and safety codes to which a school campus must adhere. I have pointed out that audio-visual equipment cannot be stored in the hallways in such a manner that the equipment blocks doorways, hides fire extinguishers, or creates an obstacle that would hinder egress or exit during an emergency.
Additionally, the massage therapy program is required to break down the classroom equipment (tables and chairs) every afternoon to facilitate the use of their massage tables and equipment. The use of the massage tables, massage chairs, and other equipment is a must to train the students. However, there is not a safe place to store the tables and chairs that are broken down, so this equipment is stored in the hallway, just a short distance away from a 3-step set of stairs. These tables and chairs create a blockage and a violation of the fire code and life safety code for schools (even private schools).
Cognitive dissonance is a phenomenon that occurs when what is supposed to happen doesn't happen.
In some meetings our faculty and staff are told that we need to "raise the bar" and strive toward continual quality improvement. In other meetings we are told that we have to limit the amount of grades, workloads, and be flexible in our grading standards.
Something is just plain WRONG.
Jim
For over 18 months I have been consistently advocating that every person that enters our campus have a picture identification card prominently displayed. For months it has appeared that these issues have gone all but unnoticed and unheeded.
Now we haven't had many incidents on our campus, but we have had a few. Some of the incidents were fights between students. Some incidents involved theft. We have had a few odd visitors to our campus, as well as several homeless persons living in our trash dumpster. But, as a former security and facilities manager for a major corporation, I have been advocating from the position of prevention.
Evidently the managers at this campus decided to implement the policy of requiring all students to have an ID badge prominently displayed at all times. They refused to implement a further step of the policy that says any person without an ID badge is asked to leave the campus. The managers decided it would not be necessary for faculty and staff to have an ID badge until some unspecified time in the future.
So far so good. I can live with the slow progression and move toward better safety. But the managers decided that this new approach to safety must be implemented immediately. The person assigned to take the pictures and create the ID badges was instructed to interrupt classes and "get the job done." No discussion or notice was given to faculty members so that the process could be appropriately scheduled and faculty members could tweak their class activities to adjust to this process.
Cognitive dissonance is a phenomenon that occurs when what is supposed to happen doesn't happen.
I have told my bosses that there are specific fire and safety codes to which a school campus must adhere. I have pointed out that audio-visual equipment cannot be stored in the hallways in such a manner that the equipment blocks doorways, hides fire extinguishers, or creates an obstacle that would hinder egress or exit during an emergency.
Additionally, the massage therapy program is required to break down the classroom equipment (tables and chairs) every afternoon to facilitate the use of their massage tables and equipment. The use of the massage tables, massage chairs, and other equipment is a must to train the students. However, there is not a safe place to store the tables and chairs that are broken down, so this equipment is stored in the hallway, just a short distance away from a 3-step set of stairs. These tables and chairs create a blockage and a violation of the fire code and life safety code for schools (even private schools).
Cognitive dissonance is a phenomenon that occurs when what is supposed to happen doesn't happen.
In some meetings our faculty and staff are told that we need to "raise the bar" and strive toward continual quality improvement. In other meetings we are told that we have to limit the amount of grades, workloads, and be flexible in our grading standards.
Something is just plain WRONG.
Jim
posted by Jim Downey at 9:41 PM
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