Disregarded: Transforming The School and Workplace Through Deep Respect and CourageJack H. Bender (InnerWork Publications, Dec 3, 2007)Reviewed by admin Mon 24 Nov 08 Bob's Rating: In “Disregarded”, Jack Bender sets out to chronicle his journey through a change process – both a personal change process and an organisational change process. The setting is a US public school and the catalyst for Bender’s journey is a change in the legislature aimed at giving teachers a greater say in how schools are run. Many writers set out to “teach” or “instruct” us in the wisdom they have acquired. Bender does not. Rather, he poses questions that the reader may consider relevant – questions that do not immediately appear obvious, but make a lot of sense as one joins Bender on his travels. For me, there were at least four events that have influenced Bender’s learning about change – a school improvement team (volunteer teachers working together on school improvements); a series of retreats (The Courage to Teach); a visit to a Quaker community; and involvement in search conferences (both business and community). In sharing his experiences, Bender enables the student of change to learn some of the basic fundamentals that are essential for any successful change process. However, when one experiences self insights through a series of deeply moving events, it is often difficult to describe these adequately to others. In Bender’s case, he attended a series of retreats over a two and a half year period that could almost be described as “spiritual”. Bender writes about these experiences which changed his view of the world and particularly about community, from one of “apartness” to “inclusion” in a way that one can almost experience without actually being there. Bender writes in a simple, yet deep and compelling style that draws you in. It’s not a style that I would normally warm to. But warm to it I did. I was continually looking for the next chapter in his teaching life, one that would show a new phase of his learning. Bender has a great ability to build on quotes from organisational, philosophical, sociological, religious writers and poets to explain his learning about community. Interspersed with such deep and insightful comments is his quiet humour – such as mentions of his “growling stomach” at a particularly inappropriate time and his own short poems. This is a story to be enjoyed and to learn from. Highly recommended for any serious student of change. |
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