Category Archives: Knowledge

Knowledge by acquaintance leadership – Boots on the ground, sleeves rolled up, get in the trenches, and get dirty…

02 Friday May 2025

Posted by in Acquaintance, Actions, Christian Worldview, Classroom Leadership, Description, Education, Educational Leadership, Empathy, Encouragement, Inspiration, Knowledge, Leader, Leadership, Listening, Teachers, Trust, Uncategorized, Understanding, Value, Wisdom

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This past week, I finished reading The Beauty of Divine Grace by Gabriel N .E. Fluhrer. In chapter five, Fluhrer cites Bertrand Russell’s famous distinction between knowledge by acquaintance and knowledge by description with the following thought by Fluhrer…

“If we know God’s providence, only by description, if all we possess is a secondhand knowledge of it, we will acknowledge His providence but we will not fall in love with it. If, on the other hand, we know God’s providence by acquaintance, we have fallen in love with the God of the sun and the storm, we will not have just intellectual ascent to his providence. We will also have a deep affection for the incomparable, glorious, sovereign God.”¹

Fluhrer’s quote should be a great perspective for our Christian Worldview, and Russell’s distinction is so simple and profound for leadership. Knowing something through description is entirely different from knowing it through personal experience, and that’s where I believe we have a problem with leadership today, and it got me thinking…

In a world overflowing with topical books, theoretical knowledge, or secondhand “expertise,” many leaders operate solely with knowledge by description. They make decisions based on what they have read or seen, reports, analytics, someone else’s summaries, or better yet – what they have been told. While this type of knowledge is valuable and needed to make informed decisions (think data-driven decision-making), it can never replace the deep understanding that comes through direct engagement.

Strong leadership requires knowledge by acquaintance. I call it “boots on the ground, sleeves rolled up, get in the trenches, and get dirty leadership.” Leaders must be familiar with the real dynamics of their leadership roles, how they transcend to the team they represent, and their assigned tasks. It’s a contrast between the true challenges of any organization and the difference between a manager/boss who reads about what the mission is and a leader who spends time alongside their teams, listening, learning firsthand, and working.

Here is what experience does… it helps others, it builds credibility, it shapes judgment, it fosters empathy, it creates understanding. Leaders who only rely on knowledge by description risk becoming detached, making decisions that sound good on paper but fail in practice because they have never been in the trenches with those they lead. Those with direct acquaintance, however, lead with wisdom rooted in reality.

It seems that most people today want and reward quick knowledge over deep understanding. But enduring leadership, the kind that builds trust and achieves lasting success, comes from leaders willing to engage personally, take risks, and learn through experience. They get dirty in the practice of acquaintance.

True leadership isn’t about knowing of the path; it’s about walking it and helping others do the same.

¹Fluhrer, G. N. E. (2022). The beauty of divine grace. Ligonier Ministries.

As you step into your role today, remember that you are not just an educator and leader but a shaper of the future. Your actions and decisions profoundly impact the lives of those you guide. Go, be the great educator and leader that our future needs.

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2025 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… X @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

The Educational Need To Return To Educating The Whole Child…

28 Friday Mar 2025

Posted by in Educational Leadership, Knowledge, Leader, Leadership, Learning, Purpose, Students, Teachers, Testing, Useful, Value, Whole, Wisdom

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This might be a controversial blog post, depending on where you land with the following thoughts, and that’s ok…

Education was once about cultivating the whole child, nurturing intellect, creativity, character, and critical thinking through a well-rounded liberal arts approach. However, this vision has been overshadowed by overemphasizing standardized testing in recent decades. The goal was to produce workers and cultivate virtuous, thoughtful citizens who could engage the world with wisdom and integrity. Schools now prioritize data-driven performance (which is neither wrong nor bad) over holistic development, often at the expense of creativity, curiosity, and a love of learning, by narrowing the focus to what is easily measurable rather than truly meaningful.

Educating the whole child recognizes that education is not just about producing test scores but about shaping individuals to be well-rounded, who can think critically, communicate effectively, and contribute meaningfully to society. Subjects like music, art, philosophy, and history were once considered essential in developing a student’s ability to analyze, innovate, and understand the world. In today’s educational setting, these subjects are frequently marginalized as schools spend more time and resources preparing students for high-stakes tests in various subjects.

The educational shift that we have now embraced has consequences. Many teachers feel pressured to “teach to the test,” limiting the depth and breadth of instruction and missing out on many teachable moments. So much of education now has students who experience anxiety and burnout, seeing education as a series of hurdles rather than a discovery journey, leading to creativity and problem-solving. The journey of discovery highlights intellectual, physical, spiritual, and social growth, each essential to the definition of educating the whole child. When education neglects these essentials, it fails to prepare students for a life of service, leadership, and moral responsibility, where in an ever-changing world, these vital skills to function in society are taking a backseat to memorization and test strategies.

Education, now and in the future, needs a teaching environment that can complement the shift we have now gone to in education. A shift that can ensure students they are not just test-takers but also promote and encourage them to become thinkers, creators, and lifelong learners. A balance is needed where we continue to provide opportunities for students to engage in lessons that promote the arts, explore humanities, and develop emotional intelligence. Returning to whole-child education does not mean that education must abandon accountability; it allows redefining it.

Is education more than test scores? I believe it is. Education should be about shaping individuals who can engage meaningfully with the world, to become productive citizens in a society that needs some resemblance of what is right. Students are not just future employees but whole persons with souls that need nurturing.

As you step into your role today, remember that you are not just an educator and leader but a shaper of the future. Your actions and decisions profoundly impact the lives of those you guide. Go, be the great educator and leader that our future needs.

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2025 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… X @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

Yes, Public Schools Should Be Able To Advocate For Themselves…

17 Friday Jan 2025

Posted by in Accountability, Actions, Advocate, Agenda, Choice, Communication, Context, Conversations, Courage, Decisions, Education, Educational Leadership, Effective, Expertise, Knowledge, Leader, Leadership, Legislators, Public Schools, Reality, School Choice, Teachers

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The 2025 Mississippi Legislative is happening, and educational issues are always on the table.

Let’s go back a week or so and look at a school district in Mississippi that distributed a flyer outlining their stance on various legislative matters, sparking a wave of online discussion. While they received some negative comments, there was also online support, proving their voice was heard.

What was on the flyer, you ask? In summary, they were for… Teacher pay raise, revision of the Mississippi Student Funding Formula, and increased emphasis on Career and Technical Education. As a district, they were against… Open enrollment/school choice, educational vouchers for private school tuition, and any decrease in retirement benefits of PERS employees.

As a public school educator, I agree with everything they stated. I’m not writing to debate their points with anyone. However, for what general reason do I agree? While public schools have many advocates, and I’m thankful for every one of them, who better to be an advocate than themselves? Which is what I would like to discuss…

Public schools are not just educational institutions; many are the cornerstones of our communities. They shape the educational experiences of our children, who form the future of our society. While other educational options exist, public schools play a unique and vital role. It’s crucial for them to engage in advocacy to ensure that proposed legislation aligns with the needs and aspirations of the students, educators, and families they serve.

Public schools are uniquely knowledgeable in providing valuable insights into the practical implications of proposed policies by articulating their positions on legislative matters, for they are the ones who know what public school education is and is about. The need for public schools to be part of the proactive engagement of self-advocacy should hopefully help legislators make informed decisions that support effective educational practices and promote student success in our public schools. It would seem that legislators would want to give an ear to those who know education.

School leaders who freely open lines of communication with their thoughts on legislative priorities foster transparency and encourage community involvement. That’s why many communities’ strength lies in the fact that they have a strong public school presence. Self-advocacy not only empowers stakeholders, parents, teachers, and community members to participate actively in the democratic process but also ensures that the community’s collective voice is heard in policy discussions, which should make them an integral part of the process. But, as we all know, you have to be willing to listen. Hearing is one thing; listening is altogether another.

It is also worth noting that many elected state officials have outlined their own legislative priorities for the upcoming session. Is there any difference when our elected officials have their own priorities and agendas? Some are valid and good, while some, I do not believe, represent the best for the overall good of public school education and the teachers. In this context, it is pertinent and reasonable for public schools to advocate for their positions on these and other legislative matters that directly impact their operations and the well-being of the public school institution.

But I need to digress. You might be tired of reading, so I’ll close with this…  

“Courage favors the bold,” and it is not only acceptable but also essential for public schools to advocate for themselves in legislative matters. Such advocacy helps pave the way for what should ensure that educational policies are shaped by those who are most intimately involved in the day-to-day realities of teaching and learning, ultimately leading to a more responsive and effective education system. As I have often stated, when we have non-educators making educational decisions and not listening to those who actually know education, education becomes the victim of __________ (you can fill in the blank).

This action underscores the importance of public schools advocating for themselves within the legislative process. It’s a call to action and to advocate, a reminder of the power and influence public schools have in shaping their future. I’m glad this school district took an educational stand and would hope more districts will also. 

If you are interested in other blog posts relating to educational advocacy, click the links…

Are You, As A Teacher, An Advocate For Our Profession?

If Teachers Are Not An Advocate For Teaching, Then Who Will?

As you step into your role today, remember that you are not just an educator and leader but a shaper of the future. Your actions and decisions profoundly impact the lives of those you guide. Go, be the great educator and leader that our future needs.

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2025 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… X @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

Theological Thoughts about Leaders and Leadership…

08 Friday Nov 2024

Posted by in Actions, Christian Worldview, God, Knowledge, Leader, Leadership, Trust, Truth, Understanding

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This blog post is something that I have been thinking about for some time… even before the recent election. I have many conversations with myself… go figure. One question I often ask myself is, “How did so and so a person get that job?” or “Why was that person selected for that role?” As Christians, one of our greatest witnessing tools is ourselves; we are on public display 24/7. Regardless of those in authority and leadership positions in general, I am comforted that I serve a God in total control…

In the aftermath of any election or a new leadership change, emotions can run high. We see it on TV, hear it on the radio, podcasts, etc. I’ve been on both sides of this with many elections thus far since my time voting. A winning majority often feels relief, and the other half is disappointed, and vice versa; prayers are answered and unanswered, it seems. However, as a Christian, there’s a theological truth I find confidence in that offers profound peace in times of political change and any change of leadership at any level, for that matter… God is sovereign, controlling the entire universe, and knows what is best. Romans 8:28 states, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” All things are all things and do not adhere to any categories. This concept of sovereignty means that God rules over all creation, history, and human affairs, including elections and those in leadership. Regardless of the outcome, as Christians, we can trust that nothing happens outside His knowledge and purpose.

explore-the-bible-mystery

In Scripture, we see that God’s will unfolds in two ways: His revealed will and His secret will. Deuteronomy 29:29 states, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” God’s revealed will consists of the principles and commands He has given us through Scripture… directives for living lives of integrity, justice, and love. His secret will, however, includes those things He has chosen not to disclose fully to us, such as specific plans for nations or why particular leaders rise and fall. Though we may not understand why God allows certain leaders to come into power, we can trust that His secret will is at work for His glory and, ultimately, for the good of those who love Him. What Scripture is silent on, it is silent. This foundational belief reassures us that no leader or election result surprises Him. His purposes are ultimately beyond our understanding, yet they always serve a greater good and work according to His divine plan. This is indeed a mystery.

The Bible teaches us in Daniel 2:21a that “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings.” This verse reminds us that the authority of every leader is granted by God Himself. Whether we support a person in leadership or not, we can trust that God has a purpose for the leadership in place and that His wisdom far exceeds our own. One clear command in God’s revealed will is that we are to pray for our leaders. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 2:1-2, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” Oh, how hard this often seems and actually is. Whether or not we agree with those in office or even in any leadership position, praying for wisdom, justice, and guidance for our leaders aligns our hearts with God’s purposes and keeps us rooted in humility.

As we move forward and live daily, I find comfort in God’s sovereignty, praying for our leaders in authority and trusting that God’s plans, though sometimes hidden, knowing that they are always good and perfect. At the same time, as leaders, we have a responsibility to foster unity and peace, and lead with wisdom, justice, and compassion.

As you step into your role today, remember that you are not just an educator and leader but a shaper of the future. Your actions and decisions profoundly impact the lives of those you guide. Go, be the great educator and leader that our future needs.

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2024 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… X @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

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