Michael Chilcutt

As I move closer to retirement (possibly four years away) from public education, I find myself returning to ideas I’ve circled for years but never fully claimed. I recently reread an old post titled “Why Blog” (partially recycling here), along with some notes and fragments I’ve saved along the way. That reflection nudged me toward a decision: it’s time to restart this blog again. 

When I retire from public education, I will certainly still work in some capacity. I know what that work will not be. I won’t be running a large high school. I won’t be living at the level of stress that has defined much of my professional life. I love my school and the people I get to work with every day. I love working with my kids every day, and I’m very grateful to have at least 4 more years.  Honestly, I can’t imagine not working with a school or school system in some capacity. 

I have thought about blogging for quite some time.  I did a few “test” blogs over the years without publishing any content. I started a blog and posted sporadically for a few years.  Although the impulse to blog has been with me, I never had a “why” that would sustain my efforts over time.  I recently spent some time thinking through the “why” before committing to blogging.  

I looked at George Orwell’s four reasons for writing.  They include:

1. Sheer egoism
2. Aesthetic enthusiasm
3. Historical impulse
4. Political purpose

I hope that #2 will be my primary reason, but I fear #1 might be the more honest impulse.  In the current state of  my country, #4 will most likely come into play. As I start this effort, I think #3 will focus on my personal history, but we will see where it goes. Although these form a nice start to my rationale for blogging, I needed a little more.

I looked around the multitude of resources online and conferred with more knowledgeable people on the topic for help in defining the “why. 

• It helps you to learn new things.  For me, a critical component of learning is the reflective process.  By reflecting on experiences (through structured and unstructured means), one can develop a deeper understanding and actionable knowledge.
• It can improve my writing.  By committing to a blog, I hope to make writing a consistent part of my life.  Just like anything else, the more you do something, the better you become at that activity.  Constant practice probably won’t make “perfect,” but it could make “much improved.”
• It can grow confidence through clarity of mission. Consistently thinking about the blog offerings in relation to my larger mission and vision helps me clarify what I am trying to say. This clarity builds my confidence to express myself.  My blog will revolve around learning, leadership, and life considered through my way of ‘artistic’ thinking.
• It provides challenge and accountability.  By committing to completing at least one post per week, I have made a challenge for myself while holding myself accountable to the goal.  I plan to post a variety of content, including short writing pieces, examples of my artwork, reflections on life experiences and my role as a leader, and general thoughts on topics that interest me.  

Ultimately, I have had to come to terms with my own reasons for blogging in relation to my goals.  On a personal level, I have committed to doing reflective practice as part of my ongoing self-study research.  The blog will complement this work by allowing me to share my thoughts with others.  It is my hope that regularly publishing content will start meaningful dialogues to help me gain an understanding of other thinkers’ perspectives.

In the coming weeks, I will continue to drill down into the “why”.