by Stuart Singer, The Teacher Leader

It was the Principal’s first year and he was determined to change the school culture.  One area of concern was the ordering of supplies.  In the past each teacher was given a specific amount they could spend and the new school leader was convinced such an approach encouraged many people to buy unneeded supplies in order to reach the arbitrary limit.  At his fourth department chair meeting near the end of the first semester he introduced the new plan.

“I really believe that we can use our allotted funds more efficiently by simply not setting any limit and giving people the freedom to buy what they need.”  His comments brought a surprised and somewhat skeptical buzz from the fifteen or so people seated around the table.  “Just tell your people to feel free to order what they need.”

“No limit?”  An incredulous voice came from his left.

“No limit,” he replied.  “Just tell them to be sure that they need whatever it is they are buying.  I have seen this work before.  When given that kind of freedom, people really try to do the right thing.”  He paused for a moment.  “But in order for this plan to succeed you need to make sure they understand what the school is responsible for providing and what it is not.  The finance officer has told me about a few people who furnish their classrooms with these funds.  That is not their intended purpose.  And even worse she just gave me a purchase order for eggs and pancake syrup.”  He shook his head.  “Now that is an example of what is really not appropriate.”  The majority of the audience nodded in agreement.

After the meeting concluded, the chairman of the science department approached the principal.  “I think I need to explain something to you.”  She was a recent addition to the chairman ranks and spoke softly.   “I need to tell you that I was the one who ordered the eggs and pancake syrup.”  Her statement elicited a quizzical look.  “But no one is going to eat them.  I order them every year for all of the biology classes.  They are part of our lab on osmosis and diffusion.”  The principal smiled as she continued. “We dissolve the calcium carbonate shells with vinegar and then we use syrup to demonstrate…” 

His raised hand stopped her in mid-sentence. “I have to say, I learn something new every day.”  The order for eggs and syrup was soon signed and within a few days delivered.  Hundreds of Biology 1 students watched eggs lose their shells.  More importantly, the new supply plan was a huge success.