Most tricks only work once

The Western world has changed over the past week, and just when it was starting to seem like history was stuck in a churning period of hatred and bickering and one-upmanship leading... nowhere.

Russian's invasion of Ukraine has now reached the point where even the most abject about face by Russian troops will not change things much, and perhaps for years to come. One of the paradoxes of life is that once power is used, it loses its mystique. Potential power is threatening and exaggerated. Power exerted usually involves realizations about the limits of power.

The Russian military turns out to have some of the same problems that all large organizations possess and has been shown to not be an irresistible force -- though it is certainly a large, dangerous blunt instrument. That blunt instrument can destroy and kill and maim, but it's tough to see how this invasion wins over the hearts of Ukrainians. 

The paradox of power being used often leading to power diminished shows up constantly in our lives and teachers certainly need to be aware of this truth. 

When I was in "teacher school" -- getting certified to teach at the University of Iowa -- instructors occasionally felt compelled to teach prospective educators some "tricks" to maintain classroom management and not allow distractions to, well, distract. 

I remember one such trick vividly. The fictional situation we were discussing was that of the typical unruly kid who won't shut up, and how to deal with that. Even in the mid-1970s, simply yelling at little Billy or Susie was frowned upon. But a professor offered the "get in their personal bubble" tactic as one to employ.

Let's say the class was discussing some insights into some poem by John Donne and Billy starts yacking to his neighbor. The tactic was to nonchalantly amble toward Billy until the teacher was standing right next to Billy's desk. No reason to address him or even look at him. The theory was that Billy would be intimidated by the physical presence of the teacher and would stop talking.

I was thinking that Mr. Biden might have considered some similar strategy following outbursts by some wacko Republican representatives (including the "pride" of western Colorado, Lauren Boebert). He might have continued speaking but strolled out into the chamber and stood quite close to the hecklers. No confrontation needed. 

You are likely thinking that would not work, and you are probably right, at least over any longer period of time. What I found on some occasions when I tried to employ this management trick was that it worked very quickly, but then created its own tensions, and mostly for me. So, Billy has stopped yakking with Fred for a bit, but now I am stuck standing there.

Here's what likely went through Billy's mind: Oh, oh. I'm in trouble. He's coming my way, and, on no, he's standing right here. And then he continues talking, and he's not yelling at me. I wonder how long he can keep this up... and I've got all day. Ah, now he is moving away toward Susie's side of the room. Nothing horrible really happened, so I will continue talking to Fred.

I mention this "teacher trick" to make this point: I learned very quickly that once I USED a trick, I lost that trick. Once students saw the tactic in action, they realized it was just that: a tactic. Some students might have an interest in just how many such tricks I had in my arsenal, and might enjoy provoking some more dramatic ones. 

But I really did not have a large inventory of tricks. Mr. Biden does not either. Even Putin appears to have only a limited number of tricks to call upon.

Better to be genuine and to truly engage students, audiences, and civic populations.