Selling Leadership

Once upon a time educational institutions were in the business of education, adding to the learning ability of students and increasing their knowledge. In their ongoing effort to serve student/consumers, and maintain enrollment, they're attempting to peddle changes in social relationships between their graduates and the rest of the world. They're now selling leadership.

It's always been our position that leadership is a quality that really can't be taught. The military academies, whose primary purpose is to mold good students into martial leaders, can't actually do so. Most military officers are individuals that fit well into an existing structure. Their leadership qualities are often only recognized by the insignia on their clothing and their ability to adhere to bureaucratic procedures.

 
 The concept of leadership itself implies followers. After all, leaders must have acquiescent followers in order to be leaders. In fact, there must be far more followers than leader.

 

This sign over the entrance to an elementary school probably can't be read or understood by most of the students. It's purpose is probably to make parents happy about the prospects for their children, whom they do not wish to become followers. It's implicit that it's better to be a leader than a follower and that attendance at Jefferson School will assure this outcome.

Even a cursory historical analysis indicates that a huge proportion of leaders have led their followers down destructive paths, for both themselves and others. Leaders initiate unsuccessful theories and negative actions, many of which don't become apparent until it's too late.

It might be better if the educational process produced people that were determined to mind their own business rather than a minority that attempted to force their views on others.