Who seems to be resisting? At what are they balking, and why?

Choice A
Obviously, Jay’s father, James Foxhall, is entirely resistant to any change in his family’s behavior. He’s got everything and everyone in his family under control.

Choice B
The Foxhalls aren’t the only ones resisting change. In fact, just about every one in this scenario shows some signs of discomfort with making changes. All for different reasons and to varying degrees.

Choice C
Some of the characters in this continuing saga will accept change readily—Jeannie and Janet. Others, however, may not. However, it is clear that the only real threat to the success of the effort will come from the Foxhalls.

Choice D
None of these statements is quite right.

Who seems to be resisting? At what are they balking, and why?

You Chose A
James Foxhall isn’t the only stakeholder in this stirring saga who will resist a new school discipline strategy. But he may be the most explosive of the resisters—especially since it will affect his family directly. The situation at the Foxhall home is stressful. Hard-scrabble farming is tough. From all we can discover in our talks with the Foxhalls, it is clear that James is showing a decided, strong, very emotional and highly personal resistance to hearing truths about Jay’s behavior as others see it.
Right now the last thing Janet needs to do is try to explain the situation more clearly to James. It won’t work. He’s in no mood for facts or detail. Instead she should try to get him into a low-key conversation, maybe on James’ own turf, to try to find out the true cause of his resistance. Then maybe she has a chance of reaching James for his support.

You Chose B
Absolutely true. To some degree, all the stakeholders in our narrative will resist change. It is human nature to tend toward entropy. However, some will resist due to lack of information. Others, like James Foxhall, at a very personal, emotional level, and still others because they have a broader bone to pick beyond the particular change underway. Different basic values, perhaps, or a personal history with one of the lead change agents. Or maybe a long-term power struggle where this change is a political football.
If she wants success, Janet needs to think about why people she needs to reach are uncomfortable with desired change, or the change process itself, and the extent to which individuals and groups will show active resistance. Only then can she craft the messages that might break down their resistance.

You Chose C
This is a good beginning to the statement, but it goes awry at the end. The Foxhalls aren’t the only real threat to the success of the effort about to get underway! Others are, as well.
There is a line between those who struggle with change normally, and those who are dysfunctional. Obviously, James Foxhall’s communication pattern is dysfunctional. Janet seems to be a person who can readily accept change, and she recognizes those characteristics in Elaine.

You Chose D
So, what else did you say about Eagle folks and why they might balk at improving student discipline?


Back to Choices

Link to Scene 4