The Flawless Consulting Fieldbook & Companion, 2nd Edition

Chapter 17Consultant for the Classroom

Ward Mailliard and Peter Block

WHERE IT IS WORKING: CLASSROOMS

Ward Mailliard is a longtime educator who organized a classroom and a school that is all about learning, very little about teaching. His classroom methodology was influenced by the concepts presented in Flawless Consulting. In order to have a greater impact on student learning, he recognized that something more was needed—other than trying harder and the typical discussions surrounding teacher performance, curriculum, students’ consequences, or grades. Ward began his inquiry by reexamining the nature of the contract between him and his students. It meant relinquishing the role of expert as a teacher and operating more as a consultant to learning.

Ward Mailliard’s story exemplifies how a deep commitment to authenticity and the contracting and discovery processes can make a difference in any setting, including a school. It is not just about producing excellent teaching in a high school environment; it’s about a fundamental shift in the way we learn.

In Ward’s words:

If we want to reform education, at the heart of the matter is a shift in thinking about teaching and learning. When we traditionally think of a teacher we conjure up someone who knows. Someone who will impart knowledge. Conversely, when we think of a student, we think of someone who does not know and who needs to acquire knowledge.

We have an active teacher and a receptive student. The directional flow of information ...