seen and not heard

We are always searching for an easier way to do things. It's human nature, and supports the "KISS" philosophy as well as the "work smarter not harder" adage. In education, one of the most important aspects (not at all surprisingly) is communication. People talk/people listen sort of deal. The problem, or one of the main problems is that those in power sometimes forget that communication is a 2-way street! You cannot direct/tell/order someone to do something and expect them to do it willingly unless there is a controlled and implied relationship (parent to child, drill sergeant to recruit, guard to prisoner, etc.). One would think that in a company or a public institution where information, brainstorming,, and suggestion are valued, feedback is desirable. The top-down management organization misses out on many opportunities to improve the circumstances and form a stronger connection, thus the concept of "teachers being seen and not heard" is predictably a recipe for disaster...