The Audacity Of Hope In Hell’s School

Thought Leadership for Reflection! In 1979, Madeline Cartwright was selected principal of the neglected and dilapidated Blaine Elementary School in a run-down, drug-infested neighbourhood in North Philadelphia. On joining, she observed that the faculty, administration staff and other school/state authorities were apathetic. No one cared about the school, since the children from the underserved communities were considered ‘no-goodniks’ and delinquents. The restrooms had an appalling, nauseating stench and were not cleaned properly. Custodians justified the stench by claiming that the urine was deep in the concrete and could never be cleaned. Without further talk, she immediately got down on her knees and began cleaning the foul-smelling children’s bathroom with her hands. After a day’s cleaning, the restroom was stain and stench free. Cartwright then got parents and teachers involved in the school, made it a safe haven for the children to learn, brought up test scores and attendance. Her book, For The Children and her story, was made into a TV series. She believed in the children and refused to give up on them. She empowered them to find their path in life and unleash their potential. Cartwright transformed Blaine into a school that set an example.

In December 2015, I was invited by the Ministry of Education to conduct a leadership programme for 70 plus principals of all government schools in Delhi. Most attending felt they knew it all on Day One. Some wondered what they would learn at the age 58. I told them of my programme, ‘Not Just Teachers, Awakeners, Enlighteners and Transformers’ had created a mindset-change for several educators around the world. A few principals quipped that the human principles I was teaching would not work in their schools, since most children were gangsters and criminals. I told them Madeline’s, Subhashini Mistry, Dashrath Manjhi and other stories and said, “we are from the land of Valmiki, a seasoned sinner, who became a spiritual saint by walking ‘the-hero-in-me’ pathway. I don’t think the children are criminals today, but tomorrow they will become, because you did not fulfill your responsibility of teaching them the right path with love, forgiveness and caring.” After three days, the principals reported to the Minister and Director of Education that they had a mind-altering experience and have today transformed several students.

Ideas for Action: Similarly, I have seen several managers and bosses neglect non-performers and people who do not produce results. Managers do little or nothing to upskill and support non-performers since they are busy chasing results by squeezing lemons (micro-managing their performers and ignoring others). Leaders create more leaders by empowering people to unleash their potential. If we unleash the potential in people, they will not only give us great results but also put in their best in everything they do. Leadership is not about squeezing lemons, but about enabling people to enable themselves with self-trust. “Leadership is simply about believing in people by empowering them to realise and unleash their own potential, even when they cannot believe in themselves.”