The Butterfly Effect
By Camille Zombro, SDEA President and
Marc Capitelli, SDEA Vice President

Some of us are familiar with the "Butterfly Effect", "or more
technically the "sensitive dependence on initial conditions."* Does a
butterfly flapping its wings in California cause a tornado in Texas?

"The example of such a small system as a
butterfly being responsible for creating such a large and distant
system as a tornado in Texas illustrates the impossibility of making
predictions for complex systems; despite the fact that these are
determined by underlying conditions, precisely what those conditions
are can never be sufficiently articulated to allow long-range
predictions."**

It's an interesting idea that we should use to reflect on our
teaching. A little thing we do today may change history in the near
future or way down the road. We work with one of the most complex
"systems" that we know of: the human mind. And we work with multiple
variations of those "systems" everyday. From smaller numbers in
Special Ed, larger numbers in high school classes, or one at a time
in school nursing we cause effects that may not show up for years.

In these times of moving ever closer to a totality of evaluation - testing - evaluation ("teaching to the test") we must remember that
the smallest thing we do with a child may have large number of
consequences. Our fear is that the escalating rush, including
"benchmark assessments," standardized tests (even in preschool!), the
elementary Standards Based Report Cards (accompanied by more and
varied assessment, and the new student portfolios - oops, "bodies of
evidence") are going to have huge effects down the line. We have no
idea, nor can we, with any accuracy, predict what those effects are
going to be. Not only do we work with individuals (systems), but also
those individuals interact with others in ways we don't understand.

We approach the holiday season with exasperation, frustration and all
those other "-ations" that build up during the school year. Hidden in
this vacation time of family, travel and celebration is the knowledge
that what we do is so important not just for the child we influence,
but his/her family and ultimately our world.

Who was the "butterfly" that influenced a Tubman, a Roosevelt, a
Parks, a Gandhi or a King? In this season of reflection, find some
time to reflect on the students in your class. The encouraging word
you give, the smile at their accomplishments, your persistence in
seeing them do it right, your ability not to give up on them may be
the butterfly that creates huge results down the line. We must never
underestimate the effect we have on our students. The possibility of
what "may be" is at the same time hopeful, daunting, and challenging.

We hope at least some of your upcoming break is a peaceful time of
rest and reflection. Keep flapping your wings - create tornadoes!

- Camille and Cap

*www.cmp.caltech.edu

**http://whatis.techtarget.com