Do we need pit crews or cowboys in Education?

Dr. Atul Gawande, Surgeon at the Harvard Medical School and writer for New York Times, says “We are specialists now, even the primary care physicians. Everyone just has a piece of the care. But holding onto that structure we built around the daring, independence, self sufficiency of each of those people has become a disaster. We have trained, hired and rewarded people to be cowboys. But its pit crews that we need, pit crews for patients". 

https://www.ted.com/talks/atul_gawande_how_do_we_heal_medicine

So what do we mean by pit crews and cowboys relatively?

Pit crews, by their definition, are highly trained, highly selected individuals that work on a specially formulated race car that would be the envy of any race car enthusiast. These professionals understand the very real value of working as a team: so their particular race car can complete a certain number of laps around a single racetrack in the shortest amount of time. Pit crew members, then, are highly committed to working faster and faster while streamlining their processes.  They have an intimate working knowledge of their highly specialized race car; they know each lug nut, each brake pad, and each tiny screw down to its finest detail.

Cowboys are experts in their own area, free to roam, to place themselves wherever they are needed, even if it’s in the most remote region of the land. They are not bound to a single track or the big city. They are not governed by anyone. They take the call as per their wishes which could be crossing a few lines in the interest of their values. 

Translate this to Education and what do we have today?

Education is a dynamic process. People need to adapt to the changing times. Schools have attempted to transform to keep up with the increasing technology, knowledge explosion, transient values and global needs. 

In the past decade or so we have seen a steep rise in specific subject experts and visiting faculty in schools. They come at a steep price, offer their expert services, guarantee results and move out when their work is complete. Their work is efficient but asks them how the students are faring overall? Do they have intimate knowledge of the working of the school? Do they collaborate and coordinate with their colleagues? Ask them their contribution to the curriculum mapping process as a team? Ask them to give extra time for social work without pay?

Today Principals are wary of ruffling their feathers as they move on to a new institution immediately without remorse. So they are treated like egg shells, very delicately. 

When you look at this holistically, have these experts contributed to the education system as a whole? Are they concerned of their student's academic identity? Have they collaborated with the other teams? Are they concerned with the past and future academic classes of the students? Are they part of the value building system we need so desperately today? Are they concerned with building STEM skills or 21st century skills of students?

Today, In education we need strong strategic improvement plans to create 21st century skills, global values and attitudes in students, we need dedicated teams creating and executing these plans diligently using strong tools like logic model and AAR [After action reports]. we need strong monitoring systems and people willing to demonstrate responsibility, accountability and ownership.  

The concerns and work demanded is huge and we need all stakeholders to contribute wholeheartedly. 

Finally, I ask you "What do we need more today"? Cowboys or pit crews? Please send your feedback.

Bibliography:

http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/cowboys-and-pit-crews - Atul Gawande

MED PAGE today - Dr. Wes Fisher, M.D September 05, 2012