3 Hour Session. Explore the problem with binary thinking in diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice work. Understand that these are polarities. Gain an overview of polarity thinking and polarity mapping. Practice using the tool. Debrief experience
Center for Progressive Education Polarity Management
1. Center for Progressive Education
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee
Seattle Girls’ School
Beyond the Binary:
Recognizing and Leveraging Polarities
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
3. Agenda
Recurring Problem of Binary Thinking
Polarity Thinking
Polarity Mapping Practice
Polarity Mapping Application
Debrief and Adjourn
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
4. Why is This Happening Again?
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
Equality or Equity
Free Speech or Inclusive Speech
Diversity or Unity
Systems Work or Individual Work
Calling Out or Calling In
Heat (protests, disruption, opposition) or Light
(education, patience, collaboration)
Safety or Bravery
Accommodation or Assimilation
Change or Tradition
5. The Problem with Binary Thinking
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
Winners and Losers
Fixes that Fail
Recurring Issues
Pendulum Effect
6. Maybe It’s a POLARITY
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
Wicked Problem
Chronic Tensions
Dilemmas
Opposite Pulls
Interdependent Pairs
7. Polarity Thinking
Cognition marked by flexibility and
elasticity that enables individuals to
recognize and navigate the countless
opposing yet interdependent energies
that manifest in all life. Polarity thinking
transforms ‘either/or’ contrasts into
‘both/and’ formulations that allow for
mutually-satisfying, stable, and
predictable gains in personal and
professional life.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
Caroline Blackwell, National Association of Independent Schools
8. Polarities, Not Binaries
Equality and Equity
Free Speech and Inclusive Speech
Diversity and Unity
Systems Work and Individual Work
Calling Out and Calling In
Heat (protests, disruption, opposition) and
Light (education, patience, collaboration)
Safety and Bravery
Accommodation and Assimilation
Change and Tradition
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
9. Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
Polarity Partnerships
10. Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
Caroline Blackwell, National Association of Independent Schools
Slide Title
No Such Thing as “Balance”
11. Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
A S.M.A.L.L. Process
13. Organizational Polarities
Centralized coordination & Decentralized initiatives
Recognize the individual & Recognize the team
Reduce cost & Improve quality
Competing with others & Collaborating with others
Stability & Change
Care for my part & Care for the whole
Respect for all & Respect for high performance
Getting the job done & Building relationships
Care of the organization & Care of the customer
Work & Home
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
Polarity Partnerships
14. Leadership Polarities
Task & Relationship
Candor & Diplomacy
Responsibility & Freedom
Confidence & Humility
Analysis & Encouragement
Control & Empowerment
Grounded & Visionary
Structure & Flexibility
Logic & Creativity
Individual Work & Group Work
Planning & Implementation
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
Polarity Partnerships
15. Educational Polarities
Teacher as Expert & Teacher as Facilitator
Direct Instruction & Inductive Discovery
School Curriculum & Student Interest
Horizontal Planning & Vertical Alignment
Formative Assessment & Final Assessment
Firm Accountability & Room to Make Mistakes
Teaching Content & Teaching Learning Strategies
Standardization & Differentiation
Individual Work & Group Work
Learning Zone & Performance Zone (Briceño)
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
18. Presenter Information
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee
6th Faculty and
Professional Outreach
Seattle Girls’ School
2706 S Jackson Street
Seattle WA 98144
(206) 805-6562
rlee@seattlegirlsschool.org
http://tiny.cc/rosettalee
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)