Responsibility and Accountability

Everyone is focused a lot on accountability these day. Well, its been the focus for many days, to be honest. But, I never understand why it is the focus. Wait, wait . . . don't get me wrong. I am not against doing my job; it's just that accountability has never meant as much to me as responsibility. I have always felt it is more important to be responsible than accountable. Legislators, education department officials, parents and colleagues will always fall short being trying to hold people 'accountable'. At best, I can 'account' to you that I did what I was supposed to do. At worst, I fight your expectations of my accountability every step of the way. Rather, I think those same groups should work to help people be 'responsible'. Responsibility and accountability have become synonymous, but I think there are distinctions. We must continue to support people to create the "ability to respond" (responsibility). As one dictionary defines, responsibility is "a moral obligation to behave correctly toward or in respect of" - here is the definition for us, educators. This is who we must be - those who educate because of a moral obligation, not an accountability law.

We can be better. We should be better. And we should "own" our responsibilities, not wait to be held accountable.