On page 187 of A Whole New Mind, Daniel Pink quotes David Collinson, a British management scholar. "In 1940 John Gallo was sacked because he was 'caught in the act of smiling,' after having committed an earlier breach of 'laughting with the other fellows,' and 'slowing down the line maybe half a minute.' This tight managerial discipline reflected the overall philosophy of Henry Ford, who stated that 'When we are at work we ought to be at work. When we are at play we ought to be at play. There is no use trying to mix the two.'”
I fear Henry Ford would have a hard time in our world today. Read this article from the Boston Globe. What would Henry Ford think? What are your feelings about play at work?
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Welcome
Welcome to the book study blog for Daniel Pink's A Whole New Mind. Thank you for joining our first ever community-wide professional learning circle, joining students, educators, business leaders, and parents in powerful conversations about learning with a “whole new mind.”
Who We Are
Shelley Bailey
I have been in education since 1989 as a business teacher, administrator and currently as Coordinator of Career and Technical Education in Elmira. I believe that the key to motivating all students to succeed at higher levels is to help them connect their learning to their lives including their interests, skills and future career plans. “A Whole New Mind” helps us to better understand people, especially students, and what will be needed for their achievement and ultimately, our ability to prosper as a nation. I am excited about the implications that this innovative book study project can have on our students, teachers and community!
Gina Beirne
I am a technology-obsessed Library Media Specialist who went to library school in the "dark ages" before the Internet existed. My love of technology encompasses every aspect of my life. My two most faithful companions are my iPhone and my Kindle. I am married, have two children, and am owned by the world's most beautiful yellow lab.
Heather Lutz
I am a school counselor at SHS. I love my job because it is magical to watch students grow into young adults during the brief four years they spend in high school. I enjoy reading, gardening, and cooking. The youngest of my three children has recently departed for college so I am finding more time for these hobbies and for spending time at the lake with my husband, Bill.
Kathy Pilling-Whitney
I am an art teacher at Southside High School. I teach ceramics, Drawing & Painting, and Studio in Art. I have been in a continual search and study for ideas and inspiration in teaching and learning. I also have a personal interest in right and left brain research.
Maggie Thurber
I am an assistant principal at Southside High School, working in the area of professional and student learning. I am devoted to promoting adolescent literacy and to supporting collaborative professional learning. In fact, this book study & blog would not have happened without the passion and impetus provided by great teacher leaders, and I am humbled and proud to be a part of the endeavor. I am excited about working together with students, parents, educators, and the business community to explore the needs of the 21st century learner. I am – the consensus is – quite right brained myself!
I have been in education since 1989 as a business teacher, administrator and currently as Coordinator of Career and Technical Education in Elmira. I believe that the key to motivating all students to succeed at higher levels is to help them connect their learning to their lives including their interests, skills and future career plans. “A Whole New Mind” helps us to better understand people, especially students, and what will be needed for their achievement and ultimately, our ability to prosper as a nation. I am excited about the implications that this innovative book study project can have on our students, teachers and community!
Gina Beirne
I am a technology-obsessed Library Media Specialist who went to library school in the "dark ages" before the Internet existed. My love of technology encompasses every aspect of my life. My two most faithful companions are my iPhone and my Kindle. I am married, have two children, and am owned by the world's most beautiful yellow lab.
Heather Lutz
I am a school counselor at SHS. I love my job because it is magical to watch students grow into young adults during the brief four years they spend in high school. I enjoy reading, gardening, and cooking. The youngest of my three children has recently departed for college so I am finding more time for these hobbies and for spending time at the lake with my husband, Bill.
Kathy Pilling-Whitney
I am an art teacher at Southside High School. I teach ceramics, Drawing & Painting, and Studio in Art. I have been in a continual search and study for ideas and inspiration in teaching and learning. I also have a personal interest in right and left brain research.
Maggie Thurber
I am an assistant principal at Southside High School, working in the area of professional and student learning. I am devoted to promoting adolescent literacy and to supporting collaborative professional learning. In fact, this book study & blog would not have happened without the passion and impetus provided by great teacher leaders, and I am humbled and proud to be a part of the endeavor. I am excited about working together with students, parents, educators, and the business community to explore the needs of the 21st century learner. I am – the consensus is – quite right brained myself!
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Clearly Henry Ford would have been shocked by this one! It is so true that the majority of employers still feel that any "down time" (besides your short break) is detrimental to productivity. The removal of all microsoft word "games" from many computers in offices shows this belief. However, there is something to be said for an increase in productivity as well as creativity when the human mind and body is able to break away from the mundane and get refreshed ---whether it be a brisk walk, a video game or a game of ping-pong. So many of us when working on anything in our home environment engage in this very thing ---work, work, and then a little bit of relaxation or fun (i.e a little tv or a brief video or computer game) before continuing to work more. Why not use this same philosophy in the work place ----it makes for a happier worker as well!
ReplyDeleteMy feelings about play at work connect with brain research that is confirming both that learning is social and that for long-term memory retention, our emotions must be involved in our learning. Perhaps we should smile more!
ReplyDelete