2/25/09 - 60 Minutes Clip

In class, we watched a 60 Minutes clip of KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program). It documented two schools that have a completely different approach to education. They have long 10 hour days, school on Saturdays, and school throughout the summer. The commitments they make and the way they handle the students demonstrates some huge leadership characteristics.

One thing the KIPP program does is have the students, parents, and teachers sign a contract. In this contract, they commit to the long hours and hard work involved. They also understand that they are to focus and learn all they can in order to succeed. In leadership, dedication is very important. KIPP has found a way to get the students, parents, and teachers to dedicate themselves to the goals of the school. This keeps them focused and driven to succeed. Signing a contract makes each person accountable to it. Accountability can help anyone stick to a goal. I am much more likely to study if I tell someone I am going to and then they follow up to see if I did it. In the same way, the kids at the school are more likely to be disciplined because they know that they made a promise and that the teachers and their parents will make sure they stick to it. A good leader provides a way for their followers to commit to a goal and then make them accountable to that commitment.

The teachers at KIPP handle their students differently than the average school. They strictly enforce the rules and teach the students to have pride in their work. They called their discipline style "tough love." They discipline in such a way that the students can tell that they truly care about their success and commitment. The teachers strive to keep them on track. They also work with the students to teach them to have pride in their work. They have high expectations which means the children need to live up to that. A good leader needs to be able to communicate that discipline to their followers and teach them to care about their work. A company would never prosper if there was nothing to keep structure and discipline. Without discipline, no one would come to work or do anything if they did come. A leader needs to show they care but also be firm about the rules.

KIPP demonstrates a great way to get children to flourish in their school work. It gives them goals and creates an environment for success. They do this through making all the students, parents, and teachers sign a contract that promises dedication. A leader needs to get their followers to commit to the established goals in the same way. The school also knows when to discipline and how to get a student to take pride in his or her accomplishments. A great leader does this as well. They teach followers to have pride in their work and discipline when necessary. Many leaders should use KIPP as a model for how they treat their followers.