PrincipalsPage.com Blog

Your Child is Not Going to Be a Professional Athlete.

Michael Smith — Sun, 13 May 2012 08:47:55 +0000

Another summer.

Another year of watching parents put unrealistic expectations on their child.

Here are the facts.

Most kids won’t play sports in high school.

Almost every kid won’t play sports in college.

There’s almost no chance you will know anyone who plays professional sports.

Your child has a better chance of being a brain surgeon than playing baseball for the Cardinals, basketball for the Lakers, or football for the Cowboys.

If you weren’t a great athlete, the odds of your child being one are slim to none.

There’s no amount of practice, coaching, or throwing money at the situation that will improve your sons or daughters enough if they aren’t born with special athetic abilities.

Also, screaming at the umpire or referee won’t help. They really aren’t there to keep your child from being successful (note to self).

The truth is if you were an average athlete, your child will likely be an average athlete.

Parents who are 5 foot 8, seldom have children who are 6 foot 7. If you were slow, guess what.

If you got cut from your junior high team, don’t plan on your son or daughter participating in the Olympics.

This doesn’t mean kids shouldn’t participate in sports.

It doesn’t mean they have to be great to play.

It just means parents need to be realistic.

The truth is, when your child is 40 no one cares if they hit the ball, scored a basket, or even played when they were 7.

Sit in your lawn chair and enjoy it.

That’s it. That’s all there is.

There’s no college scholarship or huge contract coming your way.

Just ice cream after the game. And that’s good enough.

Fresh Beagle.

Michael Smith — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:59:54 +0000

As I get older, I’ve come to realize what’s important in life.

It’s not a big house. Or owning several cars (including a Classic 2000 Ford Taurus).

Or big screen TV’s, iPads, or fancy computers (but they are nice… and the screen clairity on the new iPad is unbelievable).

It’s the little things.

Seeing your child stay out of jail (making bond is a gift).

Surviving another day at work (barely).

Enjoying weather that’s not too hot or cold (which is getting harder to find at my advanced age).

Waking up and most, if not all, of the important body parts are working.

I guess it’s a sign of maturity when you can recognize what’s truly important and you don’t focus on the small and petty.

Having a day where you literally have nothing to do (I haven’t experienced this one, but I’m looking forward to it).

And there’s nothing more important than Buddy the Dog’s bath.

Simple, but important. At least to me.

It happens every two weeks and it is a highlight.

I look forward to it days in advance (him… not quite as much).

I’m not sure this little bit of happiness would have given me the same level of contentness 20 years ago (not sure if contentness is a word or not).

But a clean dog makes me very happy (this is not a metaphor).

It doesn’t make him quite as happy, but maybe he will see the bigger picture as he gets older.

My Graduation Speech.

Michael Smith — Tue, 01 May 2012 08:20:52 +0000

It’s that time of year where schools and universities pay a lot of money for bad graduation speeches.

I want in on this. I don’t think you have to be an alumni or a politician to bore people silly.

Plus, I could use the cash. So, here we go.

Dear Students:

Congratulations on making it this far. You thought high school and college was the best time of your life.

You were right.

Now the work begins. If you can find it.

Adults in your life don’t tell you the whole truth, especially when you are graduating from high school or college. They are just happy you are not in jail.

Plus, they love you. They have to. It’s the law.

They also don’t want to tell you the truth because they don’t want to watch you cry like a junior high boy.

So I’m going to.

I’m not here to completely crush your hopes and dreams, but it’s probably going to happen so you might as well sit back and take it.

1). Life stinks.

It’s hard and complicated. Nothing about life even remotely resembles what you see on commercials or in vacation brochures.

Life isn’t a sitcom. It’s a drama. Or tragedy. Depends on how lucky you get.

Your parents and grandparents have traveled a difficult path to get you here, so now it’s your turn.

Hold on, it’s going to be a bumpy road.

2). Happiness.

Today you are happy. There will be hugs. And gifts. And cake.

Tomorrow you will wake up unemployed and deeply in debt.

Happiness will have left the building.

This situation will improve for some of you. Others will continue to wake up unemployed and deeper in debt for years to come.

I paid off my last student loan at the age of 35. I got lucky. That’s early.

Take my advice and expect the worse. That way, if life doesn’t consistently kick you in the face you will be pleased.

Just for the record, anticipate a lot of face-kicking.

3). Don’t Screw Things Up.

Just do what you are supposed to do. Mow your yard. Pay your bills (if you can find a job). Be polite. Volunteer once in a while. Don’t cheat on your taxes too much.

You will find yourself in the top 10% if you just pick up your trash and hold doors open for old ladies.

Don’t leave here thinking you are going to make the world a better place in the next 20 minutes.

We don’t need more saviors. We need solid citizens who don’t make things worse.

This sounds easy, but as you stumble through life look around and you’ll notice a lot of people who aren’t helping.

If you don’t believe me go to the mall and watch people walk by for 15 minutes and you will understand exactly what I’m saying.

4). Get Married or Shack Up.

I don’t care which one you do and I’m not here to judge. I don’t care about your personal life because I have problems of my own (she’s 11 going on 37).

But when you do hitch your wagon to someone else try and pick someone you like.

Don’t do it for money. Or looks. Or so his or her dad will give you that job that you desperately need.

Marry (or not) a person who will make you smile 70 years from now.

Life is short, but bad relationships are forever.

There is nothing worse than eating breakfast with someone you want to stab in the eye with a fork (or so I’m told).

5). Don’t Reproduce and Mate Smartly.

This is an important one.

If you are unemployed, in debt, immature, hung over, angry at your parents, wear sweat pants more than once a week, or dumb – please don’t think you have to bring children into this world.

They are lot of work. And expensive.

Once you have them, the government won’t let you give them away (learned this one the hard way).

Life is a marathon not a sprint. You don’t have to have children in your 20’s. Or at all.

Just because people ask you "When are you having kids?" doesn’t mean you have to do it. Most of the time they are just asking because they have children and want you to feel the pain and suffering they go through on a daily basis.

If you must reproduce, realize it is very likely you will be just as bad a parent as your mom and dad.

Think about this before you go to the bar and start hitting on another unemployed broke person.

Don’t create another human just so you can mess them up like your parents did you. That’s not fair.

To you. The child. Or the rest of us.

7. Your Parents.

They aren’t crying today because you are all grown up. They are crying tears of joy.

They are tired of paying for you. They want their house back. And their lives. They are tired of you tearing up their stuff.

They no longer find a 2:00 am phone call from you amusing. There is no such thing as a "minor" traffic accident when you are driving their car.

Look at them. They used to be young and vibrate, then you showed up. Now they are old and tired.

Tired of you. Tired of your laundry. Tired of your bills.

Sure, they will say you are welcome to move back home until you get on your feet, but what they really want is you out of their hair and at least 2 hours away.

They only have a few good years left. Don’t ruin it for them by mooching off them for the next decade.

Allowances are for kids. Not 25 year olds.

You will know life is winning if you are sleeping in the same bed you occupied when you were nine.

Also, adults don’t have posters on their bedroom walls.

8). Take Care of Your Health.

We are all day-to-day.

Life is short and soon you will be dead. This is one of those things people won’t tell you.

But I guarantee you, not one person in this room will make it out of life alive.

Enjoy the few days or years you have left.

Old people will constantly tell you life goes fast. They’re right.

They didn’t get to be old by being stupid.

Certain days will drag on and on, but the weeks, months, and years fly by. Faster than you can ever imagine.

The moments are precious. In fact, as I stand here I’m asking myself why I wasted the last several minutes talking to you.

Slow down when you get a chance. Don’t be in a hurry. Take a nap at every opportunity, because this journey called life, while quick, is exhausting.

8). Credit Cards.

Cut them up. Pay cash. Understand the difference between a want and a need.

Don’t try and keep up with the Jones’ down the street because it’s highly likely they are up to their….. in debt.

You don’t need a boat, horse, pool, motorcycle, 12 bathrooms, or a vacation home to be happy.

New cars are for suckers. Never invest in a sure thing. Stay out of Las Vegas.

Understand the stock market always drops.

Always save for a rainy day, because all of us are about 30 seconds away from a monsoon.

True happiness is not tensing up when the phone rings because you think it might be a bill collector.

True happiness is having at least $1 more at the end of the month than you need.

9). Diplomas.

They mean nothing.

It’s a piece of paper. A piece of paper you could have printed up for yourself 4 years ago (it’s called Photoshop people).

Life is about who you know and being in the right place at the right time.

Some of you will obtain doctorates and fail miserably.

Others of you will know people who dropped out of high school and have become quite successful.

Life isn’t fair.

The sooner you figure this out, the better off you’ll be.

Don’t be afraid to work. No job is beneath you.

You don’t get a fancy office and a big title just because you cheated your way through school.

You get those things after you work hard, not before.

10). Expectations.

Set them low. Really low.

Hope for the best, but expect the absolute worst.

The odds of you being great aren’t good.

That takes luck. And a job. And more luck.

Set your sights on being mediocre.

Mediocre is fine. Mediocre can make you very happy.

The world is full of mediocre people. There is only one Bill Gates. There’s lots of you.

In conclusion, I would like to share the secret to life.

A wise old man once told me to "Show up and shut up." I suggest you do the same.

Good luck. You are going to need it.

NASSP Principal Leadership Magazine: How Many Friends Do They Think I Have?

Michael Smith — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:56:16 +0000

Once again, it’s an honor to be included in such a great magazine.

People I barely know continue to say they’ve seen my blog in Principal Leadership Magazine (page 7).

This blog is one of my favorites.

I still don’t understand why they give me so many school pictures.

The logo above is a free plug for the company my school uses. When they take my picture they do their best to make me look less horrific than normal. Sadly, more years than not, they fail.

Society Has Gotten Too Fast.

Michael Smith — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 09:01:18 +0000

I have a theory.

Not because I’m smart, but because I’m old (two of the benefits of being old are you can say whatever you want… and eat dinner at 3:30 pm).

I think life is getting easier, but less enjoyable.

The interweb is great. Stores being open 24/7 is wonderful. Getting our news and weather whenever we want is nice.

Every day more and more things come along to make our existence more pleasant.

In theory.

Apps are nice. Movies on demand are great. Central air certainly has it perks. Smartphones are cool.

There is no arguing technology is great.

But on the other side of the coin, everything happens all the time.

We’ve lost something.

And I think it’s free time.

Boredom is good because it makes you appreciate other experiences.

And in this day in age, I’m never bored.

Who has the time?

Between work and weekends that are busier than ever, there is no down time.

This weekend I ran (jogged… whatever) a half marathon.

I hadn’t trained nearly enough. I had a bad foot (worse now).

Yet, I didn’t want to miss running (jogging… whatever… I get it).

Why?

Because I was so looking forward to the 2 hours with no phone. Or email. Or resposibilities.

Just running along with thousands of complete strangers who wouldn’t ask me a single question about anything important.

No responsibities other than putting one foot in front of the other (and not wetting myself… runners will understand).

This doesn’t happen often enough.

No, not running a half marathon.

Slowing down for two hours. Or two minutes.

Maybe I need a skip day like Ferris. Anyone want to go… Bueller, Bueller, Bueller… anyone?

School Administration is For Old People.

Michael Smith — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:22:02 +0000

This weekend I stumbled across a college class full of school administrator wannabees (I have no idea if this is spelled correctly… and I’m too lazy to Google it).

I was struck by how young they were.

They were children.

In an advanced graduate course.

So cute. So inquisitive. So excited (or not) to be spending their Saturday talking about school budgets, finances, and referendums.

Not one of them looking at their watch to see if it was time for class to be over (probably because anyone under 35 doesn’t own a watch).

They were hanging on the professors every word.

And I would say a little foolish.

School administration is a tough game. Not something children (again.. anyone under 35) should consider pursuing.

At least without careful consideration.

Don’t get me wrong, a young person can do it. I did (okay, bad example).

But here’s the thing. Being a school administrator is permanent.

Like death. Or a neck tattoo. Or marker (this one made me laugh).

Once you become a principal or superintendent there is no going back.

The teacher’s lounge door locks behind you.

Think of it this way.

If you are 25 and become a school administrator, you are looking at close to 35 years in the same demanding, difficult, sometimes thankless middle-management profession.

I’m not saying it isn’t fun. Or can’t be done.

I’m just saying it’s a long time.

Technology in Schools Is a Fad. Trust Me.

Michael Smith — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:46:05 +0000

Why are we still talking about this? The constant conversation about the need for technology in schools.

Why are we still trying to convince teachers and administrators this is needed?

Some might even say it’s the wave of the future? Crazy talk if you ask me.

Technology is the "next big thing".

Like automobiles. Fire. Batteries. Movable type. Bottled water. Daily showers.

Trust me, these never caught on and neither will technology.

I think the naysayers are right.

Technology is a fad that will never last (like ballpoint pens, air conditioning, laser beams, and Subway… because who in their right mind would pay some 17-year old kid to make them a sandwich?).

There are educators out there who understand this.

They’ve seen this same type of thing happen time and again in education. This too shall pass.

They are the ones leading the real charge. They are the ones mumbling and looking at their watches during professional development.

They gather in the hallways (often during class time) and point out what’s wrong with this technology scenario.

Technology isn’t here for the long haul.

Sure, it’s caught our fancy for the moment, but it will disappear. Trust them.

It’s time we stopped preaching to these people in our schools. It’s time we followed them.

They are the visionaries. They are the leaders.

They are the ones we should be following.

These forerunners will no longer hear me trying to bring them over to the side of technology.

From now on, I am all about paper and pencil.

It may not be what the kids want, but it’s what they need (and who knows better what the future needs than the past).

I owe so many people apologies. I’m sending them all an email apology.

Now, if someone in their buildings would just help them check… because they are also the ones constantly telling me their email machine is broken.

And I for one, would hate for them to be left out.

Easter Bunny Stopped By. Streak Continues.

Michael Smith — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 11:34:08 +0000

Another holiday.

Another acknowledgement to all that is good in the world.

Our floppy eared friend showed up. And she cleaned up.

The Evil Spawn continues to believe.

I sensed a slight hesitation, but not a word was said.

This would be year number 11 if you are keeping score at home.

This process has lasted longer than I ever could have imagined.

Only 260 days until Christmas.

Will she make it?

I hope so. Because once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.

Discovery Techbook Review.

Michael Smith — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:55:05 +0000

Since my trip to Washington, I’ve been very busy.

School. School. More school.

And avoiding hamburgers like the plague (which is what I thought I had… and mark my word, you do not want the plague).

Mowing my yard 14 times in March (global warming stinks… but it is a lot warmer).

I’ve also spent a lot of time thinking about Discovery’s Techbook.

I didn’t want to rush right back and write a review.

My concern was I couldn’t do Discovery or the product justice (and I didn’t have time).

My initial reaction to the Techbook… I was just a little bit "under"whelmed.

I think I had my hopes set so high. After all, this is the company that brought us Mike Rowe, Mythbusters, and American Chopper (by the way… props on the cardboard cutout of Paul Sr. at Discovery Headquarters).

I thought the Techbook would completely transform education.

Rock my world. Like Poison or Motley Crue (the 80’s were a special time).

I was hoping for everything.

Complete and total transformation. The universe would never be the same.

Like when ice cubes came along. Or air conditioning.

Cable TV. Indoor plumbing. McNuggets. Shoe strings. Underwear (seems weird, but try to imagine life without them).

Techbook was good.

Really good.

But I had my hopes up for iPad good.

That it would give me something I didn’t even know I needed.

Don’t get me wrong. Discovery is on the right path.

It’s a company with really smart people who really care about education. And storms (they like to chase them).

I was just hoping they would jump 20 years into the future. Call me impatient.

I was impressed enough we hope to try out the Science Techbook in my school.

There is no doubt digital textbooks are the future.

I’m just hoping the future gets here quicker than probably is possible.

My suggestion: if your school is thinking about buying textbooks… don’t. Until you try Techbooks.

Still Best of the Blogs.

Michael Smith — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:25:30 +0000

We need more superintendents to blog.

If I’m still on the list, we may have a problem.

But thank you AASA and The School Administrator magazine.

Check out the March 2012 issue.