2 Rules

A beloved middle school teach of mine by the name of Mr. G____ summarized all the expectations of classroom behavior into two short and concise rules: "Be Here," and "Be Nice." While I am convinced that many middle school teachers would have nightmares about ruling a class with such simple guidelines, I am equally convinced that students, and people in general, respond to simplicity, and more importantly, to the respect that simplicity offers. I will vouch for Mr. G____'s method by saying that the freedom we experienced in his class begot knowledge and growth.

Additional rules, while they may seek to ensure conformity and standardization, confuse the process and undermine the goal. Instead of being asked to develop in maturity, a student may be asked to obey a number of set number of behavioral rules (do not shout, do not kick the chair in front of you, be here on time, bring your notebook to class everyday), which besides assuming the student's propensity to do such things, fails to accommodate all possible transgressions. "But Ma'am, I wasn't kicking Billy's chair, I was pushing it with my foot!"

On the contrary, we can assume that any sort of transgression is possible AND likely. In order to create order, therefore, rules must address the essence of the problem, not the various heads that it rears. I'm reminded of another Man who instituted a two rule system. Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind'. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 37-40). Jesus clarified all the laws of the Old Testament in two clear, easy to understand rules. The two rules summarize the nature of the problem, give a large measure of freedom, and enable the opportunity for personal growth and integrity.

As a peer manager of college students I assume two things to be true. First, that they do not need to be told how to sit at the front desk, for to do so would be to insinuate that they lack intelligence, and second, that when people feel respected, they will do whatever they can to live up to that respect. I follow the lead of others, therefore, when I summarize all the desk expectations into two concise rules: "Be Here," and "Be Alert." All other aspects of the job stem from these two rules, and I try to give my workers as much freedom as possible to determine how best it means to follow the rules. It does not matter so much that these rules are stated, but that they are understood. It would be counter beneficial for me to post these two rules now at the desk as if to say, "You don't get it, let me explain," but if I were to begin again I might call attention to them.

Perhaps I have not adequately related this discussion to game mechanics and theory, but I am not sure that a correlative connection is necessary. Suffice it so say, people are more likely to play the game correctly when they can remember and understand the rules, and I am more likely to be pleased by the system I create when the participants do what is right, not because everything has been explained in line item form, but rather because they are fulfilling my trust in their ability to think for themselves, to understand, and to grow in maturity.