Expectations

This last Friday revealed insights into why we, as the country, are in the messes that we are. Thursday brought ice. While not as much as expected, a look out the window Friday morning included a crisp, crystallized world.

Everything was canceled. Christmas concerts, sporting events, social meetings, the ice had stalled them all.

I, however, work in the health care industry where things cannot shut down because of weather. A half an inch of ice doesn't stop people from being sick. We, those who work for health care organizations, are still expected to be at work regardless of the current conditions. No excuses, you need to be here. If you can't we'll send someone to get you.

Since "calling in" wasn't an option, the thought never crossed my mind Friday morning. I didn't look out the window to see whether or not I would try to go to work. I peered through the glass to assess what had to be overcome.

After the morning rituals, I marched out to the car and completed a 20-minute workout scrapping the cold encasing that had wrapped itself around the car over the night. I carefully drove two blocks on what appeared to be smooth glass. Reaching the main roads, the rest of the journey was relatively simple. It took at least twice as long as normal, but I arrived without any incidents.

Here's the point: Expectations dictated that I was at work. No "I can't get out of my driveway". No "the roads are too bad". People will still need care, you will still need to be at your desk.

How many people who live in the same area as myself "called in" on Friday? How many individuals located near my co-workers homes were absent that day from their jobs? I know people who live at least an hour from the building who were there on Friday. A guy in my department lived in a rural area; he was there.

Now, the "emotional" may read this and say, "He thinks he is cool because he went to work on Friday. People shouldn't risk their lives to get to the factory production line!!" This is not my point. The point resides in the answer to the question, why is it that one person goes to work without hesitation, and the person who lives immediately next door did not because he contended that he was not able?

The answer is simple. It is the only difference between the two. Expectations. Both had the ability, one was allowed different options. One was allowed to determine that the weather conditions were insurmountable. The other had no choice, he must get to work.

My dad taught school for almost thirty years. Today's educators would classify his classroom management style as "authoritarian". Student's in his class did not have options, only expectations: arrive on time, sit in your desk, pay attention, take notes, complete assignments, pass tests, remain silent unless protocol permitted noise.

I graduated with a buddy that I had never seen do any of these things. I can't remember him ever taking a book home. I cannot reference any memories of him taking notes. I can recall, however, feeling sorry that I missed his performance in an high school math class, one where the teacher told him to do his work, and he proceeded to stand tall, clutch his crotch, and instruct the educator to "work this!"

I won't ever forget the feelings of incredulity when this guy referenced my dad's class, "Dude, I didn't mess around in your dad's class. I took notes, handed in my homework, and made sure that I studied for tests." Even now, it is difficult to imagine. He did homework? He took notes? I honestly can't picture it.

So what was the difference? How is it that he was doing a "work this" in one class and getting writing cramps taking notes in another? Obviously, it was expectations.

Compliance was not an option in my dad's class. Those who wanted to test the system met a swift demise and soon "fell in line".

How do you know? You never had your dad as a teacher?

True, but I can't count the number of times I have heard "man, I never messed around in your dad's class", "dude, your dad was a hard-ass", "your dad was such a prick!" Often these statements came from people who I know were pretty "rough" individuals, the kind that I wouldn't have "messed with".

My dad probably was a "prick" in class. He managed the classroom through intimidation. He wouldn't last one class period in today's liberal-infested environment. But I also can't count the number of times I have heard some of the same former students say, "your dad's class is the only time that I can remember learning something in school", "I don't know much about anything, but I can still tell you about US government", etc., etc.

These people had the ability. Unlike other environments, they had no choice but to use it in my dad's class.

Whether it's taking notes or getting to work, most of us have the ability (see A Thanksgiving Testimony). In today's society many of us choose not to use it. Instead, we lean on all of our excuses. The color of our skin, our terrible childhoods, our neighborhood, there is always something preventing us from trying, from succeeding.

It's not a surprise to this writer. While I work in IT, I studied to be a music teacher in college. So many of the classes included reasons why Johnny wouldn't have his homework done, why Sally would need to be excused from the standard expectations. Logic and reason have been replaced by "outcome-based learning". We are no longer interested in whether 2+2=4. How does 2+2 make Johnny and Sally feel?

Expectations. They are what will determine the future of this society, this country. A return to those that made this country great is my prayer.