Cincinnatus: A study of managerial leadership

I was focusing on Ancient Roman history – not just the early Caesars and Tacitus, but also the Early Republic. And in reading, you can see the similarities between those leaders and managers.

Perhaps one of the best leaders – I should be clear, selfless leaderse Cincinnatus, Emperor of Rome (who, it should be noted, is not a dictator in the modern sense). During the crisis, the Roman Senate, visited Cincinnatus on his farm – he found mud and dirty plowing his field. When they gave him the tyranny, Cincinnatus agreed, dismissed himself, defeated the armies of Rome’s enemies, and after fifteen days resigned his tyranny and returned to his territory. Like George Washington, Cincinnati had a chance to stay in power, and he gave up that power. He was able to submit to a low position, after having a high authority.

What a lesson for political leaders!

And what a lesson for school administrators – and when we as teachers need this type of leader the most, there are none.

Most of the rest are kings – men ruled by vanity, ego, and responsibilities while living in their palace in Capri, or imprisoned in a palace in Rome.

Our Caesar Augustus, let’s call him Mr. Doolittle, walking down the hall, yelling loudly, picks and chooses whether the ten-day suspension goes to the student he doesn’t like, or whether the student is a “poor, unfortunate soul” and gets to keep roaming the halls for the rest of the day. While our bleeding hearts may think this is so which gives you backthe result is that the student’s corridor is growing, and the respect towards Mr. Doolittle is shrinking. (I will also add, that he comes from the teachers’ cell instead of the administration he should do to be more considerate to teacher’s grief, but alas, it is not so; choosing to ignore his team’s death on the field, as long as his reputation is strong. Sic transit gloria mund.

Then we have our Tiberius, we will call him Mr. Trebuchet, whose mandate is that he is “Caesar’s friend” or “as long as obedience is strict.” However, you can work with someone who works in that binary way of thinking. I can – and have been – a slave to making sure I’m in good shape; however, there are always exceptions. If you kiss Trebuchet’s butt, or stroke his ego, then he is “out of line” and 50 percent is ignored, and he survives the Spanish Inquisition’s weekly Monday morning meeting.

So, when Trebuchet opens with: “Johnny is failing his push-up class!” open with the opening shot.

And you want to answer: “Johnny is sleeping in class because his brain is foggy and dark…

But the expected answer is: “According to the Individual Student Checklist Johnny was checked for thirty eight minutes of instructional time, and an attempt to call home was interrupted by a disconnected number, and an email to bigdaddybooty1985@yahoo.com.” (You know Bubba Shoescott or Bubbalina Shoescott is smiling condescendingly planning their extra week off after the break).

In Trebuchet’s latest case, he accused a teacher of inciting an incident with a student. It is interesting, because only a day before, and a week before that Trebuchet praised this teacher and sought his help. But now, the phrase “small” is encouraging – like “if you want me to be ‘small’ I can drive home by shouting in class.” Now, the student can say “I want to fight you on the field, Miss” Dresdenstudent, it is simply misunderstood; “fighting” is an existential battle – “a metaphor, really…”

“But ‘small’ can’t be a metaphor?” Ms. Fieldes asked.

“No…if you tell a child they are ‘small’ you are invading their personal space, and…” followed the bureaucratic jargon.

But the region is not all bad..

Perhaps the best administrator I had, and the closest to Cincinnati, was my first principal. You can compare him to Scipio Africanus – self-starter, organizer, and great personality. Of course, he, like me, didn’t “play well in the sandbox,” (some may call him an “asshole” – but he’s my kind of asshole ala Die Hard II). And unlike the managers above who received little recognition, this one did (and currently serves in a very high position). The girl who eats the fourth French Toast, in her fog – kicked it out. A kid who pulled a gun on another kid during school – got out. His tough-as-nails-telling-it-to-the-straight attitude showed me off, and triggered my ​subtle ADHD diagnosis, and he showed up. Sure, he took the promotion and is in the district office, but he deserves it – blood and sweat.

Also, we have to show you six weeks of details on why an untrustworthy student – who forced even staplers out of the room – could not be sent to the discipline program.

I can’t stand managers who don’t have grit in their nails, who don’t have a shoulder in the game, but then like to criticize and give people a hard time.

Give me Cincinnati!

Give me Scipio Africanus!

But for now, Goodnight, Cincinnatus; wherever you are!