I could learn from you Cathy...
My defensive side goes into full gear, and I say something....and THEN go away and think about what I
should have said.
Actually it works pretty well. Sometimes, the person even seems to realize that she's put her foot in her mouth...and starts backpedalling.
When you're involved in advocacy, it's always tempting to use these opportunities to educate. Unfortunately, opinionated people are rarely open to being educated.
When I am dealing with our principal the scenario usually goes like this:
1. I make a request and give my reasons for it.
2. She has reasons not to give me what I am requesting.
3. I listen to her reasons politely and go away.
4. A few days later, I return and say, "I thought about what you said last week. I understand that you are saying XYZ but..." I shared "A Nation Deceived" with her this way and also DS' IQ and achievement scores.
5. I leave the information with her.
6. She eventually comes around to giving me what I asked for.
Maybe I just wear her down... I have quoted board policy, given her legal documents, scholarly papers, letters from doctors and psychologists, etc.
