I studied Latin for four years at school but I’m more interested in it now than I was at school. Perhaps its useful to store what you learn when you are young because at some time it may become relevant.

“ Est Id Quod Id Est” = “It Is What It Is” - perhaps a true Latin scholar would take issue with the Latin translation but it is meaningful for me and certainly easy to say. It can be readily tied with the French - “C’est La Vie” - which means “Such is Life” and I often use both sayings together. Though different languages, but related, there is a certain musicality in saying them together and they are very easy to remember, which is important for their role as a mental, cautionary flag. The effect of saying them does in fact raise an eyebrow and perhaps this produces the statement in plain English from others saying -“what are you talking about?’’. As I was reflecting on what I should write to you about, whilst living in my mountain retreat, I was ambitiously multitasking by trying to remove an exhaust stud from the engine head of my precious 1948 Riley. As so often happens in old cars, I broke it and extracting the stud was becoming a frustrating and complicated challenge. Rather than drifting into unhelpful anger, I added a Latin “non” to my favourite saying so, to me, it translated as “It Isn’t What It Is”. The small complexity of this Latin statement (which can be written in other ways) took my mind away from operating impatiently and thus avoiding a deeper disaster but also removed me from the reality of the situation.

So often in our tasks as Teachers and Principals we want the reality to be “ Non Est Id Quod Id Est” -“It Isn’t What It Is” - rather than facing up to the fact that “It Is What It Is”. Once again I refer to the great creative educator Kurt Hahn who was noted for saying “Are You Sure?” I guess this is the voice of caution and critical thinking ensuring that any decision made has been well considered and is constructed in the bright light of wisdom rather than the dullness of ignorance and risk.

In my first post teaching at Wangaratta Tech, I used to teach a social studies unit about the Chris Bonington expedition to climb the South - West face of Mount Everest. I showed the students a very engaging video of the expedition. Videos were a novelty in those days. It was 1976 I think and videos were large clumsy affaires but certainly thrilling in the very hot, green, portable classroom which was my school home. The lead climbers had made it to the summit of Everest and it was getting late in the afternoon. Photographer/ experienced mountaineer Mick Burke who had been delayed, was heading for the summit but going on alone. What he was doing was very risky though subsequent history has had mountaineers climbing Everest solo. To him perhaps this was the chance of a lifetime and the risk was worth it. Sadly it didn’t pay off and he was never seen again. I have often wondered whether, Mick thought that rather than “it is what it is” he desperately wanted to think “it isn’t what it is.” Of course we will never know but the world lost a great character and a brilliant mountaineer. The story has remained vivid in my mind ever since and has reminded me to really consider wisely whether “it is or isn’t what it is”.

These Latin statements can be indicators to being unnecessarily over cautious or necessarily cautious. Let’s consider the latter. Risk is today high on the agenda of most organisations, especially schools. Take for example the concept of classroom management. It is sometimes expedient to avoid addressing the situation involving a teacher with poor class management. The inconvenience of loosing a teacher part way through the term is most unpalatable. As a Principal it is possible to consider that things aren’t so bad and in fact “It Isn’t What It Is” - “Non Est Id Quod Id Est”. The red flag of danger is then hoisted in a Principal’s mind when it is realised that in fact that the initial desired analysis is wrong and in fact “It Is What It Is”.

What if a student is injured as result of the teacher’s poor class management? A Principal might be asked whether it was known that this teacher was unable to manage a class safely. I have seen senior teachers argue against perhaps putting another teacher in the class to assist and provide support because it is unfair on other teachers or it is too expensive. At this point there is pressure to adopt the notion that “It Isn’t What It Is or It Isn’t What It Seems”. Indeed if analysis shows that “It Is What It Is”, then the Principal must determine “It Is What It Is Such Is Life”. However the Principal will decide to act to genuinely solve the situation before something unfortunate happens. Money certainly must not be an excuse which results in avoiding solving a risky problem.

“Non Est Id Quod Id Est” is often also expressed in the terms “that it is not as bad as it seems”. In fact, after legitimate research this may be the case and a positive action may occur as a result. It maybe that a teacher, on the surface, doesn’t seem to have the experience to take a science excursion into the bush. Immediately all the red flags for the Principal to say “no” start rising. Then after further research the unknown becomes known to the Principal and it is found that the teacher has a current wilderness first certificate, use to teach outdoor ed and can fill out an effective risks assessment. Importantly the teacher has good student management skills. Because the teacher taught full time in science these other skills weren’t apparent. The excursion therefore could proceed!

I had a rule that regardless of how few the number of students going on an international trip were they should always be accompanied by two suitable staff members. This was a non-negotiable decision. “But we are only sending six students”. What wasn’t considered by those not willing to send two teachers was what happens if one staff member becomes ill or indeed a teacher has to stay with a student who is ill in hospital etc. etc. etc. Two teachers it is! As time goes on and experience has a chance to develop it is amazing how many unusual circumstances take place. It is often valuable for two people to be able to work on a difficult decision together when away. I think I went overseas with student groups 17 times. All were great experiences but there were many, many “curved ball” decisions to make, not a task for the inexperienced.

Maybe it is helpful for a Principal to remember these short phrases as a check in making good decisions though probably most will have their own tried and true approach.

“It Is What It Is” and if that is genuinely what it is, action maybe required or if not, maybe the statement “Such Is Life” is appropriate as nothing can be done about it. “Est Id Quod Id Est”. “C’est La Vie”.

“It Isn’t What It Is” may result from the analysis of something which turns out to be not what it seems and requires a different reaction. “Non Est Id Quod Id Est” is the appropriate.

Chris Tudor

AISNT Historian & Principal Liaison