The two day “face to face meeting” I thought was terrific, profiling our diverse Independent School sector where courage, initiative, imagination and determination abound in a quest to provide effective education to such a diverse population. And it is obvious that Principals and their school communities are determined to make their schools work regardless of the many obstacles faced.

The word that kept coming to me during those two days was “Initiative”. There are a variety of very specific definitions but I quite like that presented in the Macmillan Dictionary: “the ability to decide independently what to do or important action intended to solve a problem”. It is not easy to find people with heaps of initiative but it was clear to me that in the room on those two days there was plenty. Initiative is so valuable. I remember a staff member who would come and see me about a problem but would always prefix the conversation by saying “I’m going to present you with a problem and then offer you a solution”. Great value, though the staff member was always open to discussing the solution. This approach, I found was not practiced by all staff members.

Another impressive observation was how members were focused on how to achieve the best outcomes for their particular student body. There seemed a real appreciation of the individual student and their particular circumstances which is an attitude that reaps success.

Last week I had the pleasure of viewing some sessions of the local Eisteddfod. What a pleasure it was - mostly primary school children with their enthusiastic teachers. In a busy teacher’s life it could be easy to decide that participating in such an event was perhaps a bridge too far. Obviously coaching the children is a massive task. However the excited, enthusiastic faces of the participating children presented a really positive story. Teachers really do a magnificent job and encouragement from the principal I’m sure is a pot of gold.

I think there is great value in Principals meeting together and sharing ideas. Much can be learnt from each other’s journeys and experience and the time invested will definitely pay dividends.

IDEAS FOR TALKS TO STUDENTS

Centre Board

The Centre Board of a yacht is essential. Without it the yacht will not respond effectively to the rudder and will therefore not travel where you want it to go. It is really important to ensure, in life, that you have a strong Centre Board to refer to.

Steam Engine

I am a steam “Buff”. I have a small model stationary steam engine and a model steam locomotive that runs on a track. My grandchildren love watching them run. However the first lesson both engines deliver is one of patience. Before the engines run you must wait until there is sufficient steam pressure in the boiler. Yes the children have to wait. After a while they begin to doubt that it will go. Then with much huffing and puffing the locomotive slowly moves a few millimetres while the stationary engine begins to move its flywheel a little. Not long after this the locomotive moves forward with determination, eventually breaking into its full stride while the stationary engine whips the fly wheel around dramatically.

The analogy: The fuel of initiative is used to create the fire of determination to generate the steam of success which makes the engine run. However it won’t move unless it has fuel, fire and water. This is a good analogy of how to create success.

A further point to add is that the steam engine powered the Industrial Revolution and changed the World for ever. It evolved as a result of ordinary people observing, thinking, creating, refining, seeking solutions, developing understanding and seeing a purpose for what they were doing.

Time is Valuable

Think of time as water coming out of a tap. You will not get the same water again. Once it goes down the drain, this water will be lost forever. Don’t lose it - use it thoughtfully.

Train and Bridge

Imagine a bridge with a railway line rising up to it, crossing it and then running down the slope as it moves away from it. The railway line is supported by pylons as it moves up to the bridge. The bridge is obviously the key objective. As the train travels up towards the bridge it crosses these pylons. The train’s journey symbolises the challenge of starting anything new: each pylon is a negative that has to be overcome - too expensive, too difficult, not understood, not enough time.

The reaching of the bridge should produce a feeling of happiness, satisfaction and pride - the new goal has been reached! What is really important after crossing the bridge, is to ENJOY the journey down the hill and to APPRECIATE and OWN the achievement.

I had a lot of fun with this story. Knowing the story my son bought me an electric train set for Christmas. It was a tiny N gauge model, complete with tracks and a bridge. I set it up as a centre piece on my table in my study at school and had great fun using it as a concrete illustration of the story. It was appreciated by staff and students alike when they visited.

Futile Revenge

I am a great admirer of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi, the hero of Indian Independence. He was a person imbued with wisdom and the ability to communicate important ideas simply to people. One of his wonderful observations was that if people believed in taking an eye for an eye, in the end, the whole World would become blind.

Lamp

Light is a wonderful concept and is used with purpose in so may stories. Because it is a contrast to darkness and therefore seen as something positive, stories relating to it are readily absorbed by people.

It is indeed your choice - you can light your lamp and provide light for yourself and others or you can let the darkness remain. Are you going to be a lamp lighter?

Chris Tudor,

Principal Liaison & AISNT Historian