Can You See Tough as Love?

​One of my disconnects
As an educator:

I sometimes see
Tough as love.

Meanwhile, students
And parents can receive
Tough as...
Mean
Vindictive
Unwarranted
Unreasonable.

What might be the
Impacts of tiptoeing
Around issues like...
Apathy?
Truancy?
Vandalism?
Disrespect?
Plagiarism?
Aggression?

Individuals who respond
Appropriately to
Evaluation?
Redirection?
Repercussions?
Constructive Criticism?

Unlikely.

​For these to be
Used for growth
And improvement,

One has to have had
Experiences with discomfort
And a track record of pushing
Through difficult experiences.

We in K-12 should not treat
Students like they are in
"The real world" because, quite
Frankly, school is sometimes
Anything but.

We are, however, obligated
To have reasonable expectations.

For me as a writing teacher,
This includes attention to,
Among other things, completely
Responding to the prompt.

For me as a principal,
This means showing up
In expected ways—taking
Advantage of the
Opportunity to learn &
Allowing others to do
The same.

Establishing this as a must
Can create a bit of pressure
And urgency--both of which
Are helpful when familiar &
Therefore effectively managed.

Both of which are helpful
When they finally hit
"The real world..."

However you wish
To define it.

About Principal Parry 

A two-time South Dakota High School Principal of the Year nominee, Lisa Parry has been a South Dakota educator for 30 years. Her mission is to connect with those seeking positive ways to reframe and respond to challenges. Her expertise transcends the K-12 space and includes a focus on topics including, but not limited to, people-pleasing, likable leadership, meaningful messaging, and everyday engagement.  Lisa presents, writes, coaches, and mentors professionals seeking to establish and maintain a positive and healthy professional and personal life. ​