Our world has changed

Why do government and communities need to consider the next steps in relation to school closures?  Because

• Our recent experience is only the first of many resource-related challenges that face virtually all communities and governments world-wide. 

The biggest, most consistent question facing us is

• How can the system change so that we can all do more and more with less and less?

Ironically this is emerging at a time when we seem to have lost all touch with systems thinking and change management. It is more common for policy/decision makers to respond as if we are at the edge of chaos [*].

Admittedly, the nature of systems has changed, particularly since the arrival of the internet. Systems are now networks of often largely autonomous agents, Systems, including school systems, can no longer be treated as production lines (example) with an overlay of organisational trees that describe the  relative status, power and authority of those involved.

Clearly, at least 20 Tasmanian school communities are already better prepared for what is to come. These communities still have Facebook and a whole new set of knowledge, skills, experiences, networks and relationships and a clearer sense of their own identities. They have transformed their initial sense of being at the edge of chaos into something that could be very useful to all concerned is sustained and developed. Managed well, there is a close potential link between innovation and being at the edge of chaos, but it does require a change of mindset.

I cannot think of anything that the policy/decision makers (government and government departments) have to enable them to match what the school communities have done in 18 days!!  The old "golden rule" (Those who have the gold make the rules) is not as valid as it used to be.

But what might happen next?   So many lessons to be still to be learned!!

[*The sudden decision to finalise the closure 10% of Tasmania's schools within four weeks is a classic response made under is a chaotic situation. It didn't work because only the decision makers were in chaos at the time. The schools and their communities were far from chaos]