The photo above has absolutely nothing to do with the rant I'm about to lay on you. Instead, it's a photo I took this week of the stunning sky over the Main Building on our campus. Sometimes, when I remember to look up and look around (sage advice from a dear friend), my jaw goes slack. I feel so lucky that this natural beauty surrounds me.
However, even in a stunning setting, I can experience things that make me wonder what the heck people are thinking. Since there's almost no danger that any of the people I'm annoyed at will be reading this (in fact, if you're reading this you're on my "favorite people" list!), I'm going to explain (more or less) why I'm annoyed.
Some people have a hard time making humane decisions about real people rather than relying on policy. Worse, some people in positions of authority create policies based on fear, not much experience, and a partial understanding of the one case in front of them; they end up writing cruddy policies. I don't understand why people don't use their judgement, rely on their values, and do the right thing.
Note, I'm not complaining about kids. The students here are teenagers. I expect them to make some choices that put them in rough positions. I'm talking about the adults who are so married to creating or following orders that they forget the bottom line: Our job is to do what's best for the students.
I am fully aware that I've left all facts and specifics out of this rant. By the time I read over this post, I hope to have forgotten the specific instances that have me all fired up today as I write. If I ever do something that makes you think I'm hiding behind a rule rather than weighing what's in the best interest of those involved, please make me read this post aloud fifty times and hand write on the black board two hundred more times, "I will not be a policy wonk."
Does any of this make sense to you? If you want to rant back at me in the comments, please go for it. Oh, and also, look up and look around -- you might see some lovely clouds.