In his book, The Fifth Discipline, Peter Senge describes a phenomenon he calls "compensating feedback". Compensating feedback occurs when individuals within a system attempt to compensate for the inefficiencies of the system by being more diligent and working harder at ensuring that things that occur under their sphere of influence work. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to these well-intentioned individuals, law 2 of the fifth discipline kicks in, that is, "the harder you push, the harder the system pushes back".
Those of us who have been a part of the education system of Trinidad and Tobago for more than a decade have been victims of this law. Some of us have been Boxers (of Animal Farm fame) working harder to make things work, but inefficiencies in the system militate against our efforts. The harder you push, the harder the system pushes back; the more effort you expend trying to improve matters, the more effort seems to be required.
When as teachers we attempt to compensate for the failure of our employer to ensure that there are adequate resources to support the delivery of high quality education, we inadvertently contribute the system's malaise. I know, I have done this is the past.
