Whats The Value of a Russian Babushka Doll
I have a pretty Babushka Doll on my sideboard, and it sits there with its interesting Russian colourful design waiting for attention and comment. I bought it in Moscow which I visited many years ago, with my youngest son, who accompanied me on a trip to visit Round Square schools in Oman and Africa. Interestingly on one of our excursions within Moscow, he bumped into a couple of Ivanhoe Grammar teachers who recognised him. A couple of months before he had been there on a year eight exchange. Small world! Moscow was still enjoying the freedom which resulted from the change in direction championed by Mikhail Gorbachev who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 for helping to end the Cold War and then dissolved the USSR.
So aside from being pretty, this Babushka Doll has significance for me, and I have used it many times in talks to both staff and students. It has been a good reminder to me to be thorough in the appointment of Staff. Not taking time and care can so easily end up in a disaster. The Babushka Doll is a reminder of how complex people are. My doll is made up of 5 dolls each nestled inside the outside one and each one becoming smaller. Some larger Dolls will have up to ten parts.
Appointing staff is obviously one of the most important tasks for a Principal. We all know that getting it wrong can result in a Nightmare to be avoided as much as possible. During one position I applied for, the Principal took me for a walk around the school, engaging me in conversation, asking my opinion of things and gauging what my real interests were. When we retired to his office, he said “we did that walk because I wanted to gauge who you were and whether I could work with you and whether you would fit into the staff team. As to whether you were a good teacher, I can find out that from your referees.”
Like exploring the Babushka Doll to see how it is constructed, Principals want to find out as much as they can about an applicant before making a decision to employ them or not. A Principal may not be able to find out everything about the person which is like not being able to get down to the last piece of the Babushka Doll, but they should aim to get some way. Obviously, a Principal shouldn’t be dazzled by the “bright colours” on the outside of an applicant. What a disappointment if a person bought a Babushka Doll and found that when you pulled the first layer off there was nothing else inside. A person buying the Doll would be disappointed because they had been cheated. A similar disappointment can occur when considering an applicant for a position and their external presentation is not real or there is no depth beyond this.
A “NO NO” for a Principal is to give an undesirable teacher a glowing reference when they don’t deserve it. Sadly, I have seen that happen a number of times during my career and l believe it is not at all ethical.
I remember years ago a staff member who was a reasonable operator but definitely had some weaknesses. He applied for a job with a well-known Traditional Independent School. The Principal rang me to ask for my opinion about him. I wrote my answer down before speaking to him. “He’s great at this, solid at that, but not strong at A, B and C.” The Principal thanked me and some days later I found the staff member had been appointed. I felt I had discharged my duty by giving him all the information to enable him to make an informed decision. About three years later I saw the Principal at a conference and asked him how the teacher was going. He reiterated the words that I had said to him. Clearly the weaknesses were tolerable for him. Fine.
As a Principal works with staff members they do get to know more and more about each one. That is understandable, but if they have been thorough, they will hopefully avoid any significant negatives and may possibly have found a lot more positives as they see their staff at work.
One last comment arises out of the value of an interview. I began to find that the interview was a possible real danger. Some potentially weak staff members may be appointed on the strength of their interview. The person may be likeable, really engaging, be convincing about their abilities and indeed their track record. However, a follow up referee check may show that this was not true, or the Interviewee was genuinely delusional. The disappointment felt if a poor, weak appointment is made will be devastating.
The Babushka Doll analogy is also a good one to remember when teaching students. First impressions may not be a true reality. It is unlikely that a person will get down to the final piece, but nevertheless a teacher should try and understand more about the students they are teaching. I have known teachers who have not wanted to do this, which is a pity. My dog Sketch was the school dog for some seven years. She would come to class with me and would calmly sit next to a particular student, not necessarily the same one and that would indicate it would be of value to have a casual “how are you going?” chat with the student. Dogs can really have a sixth sense.
I’m a poor sleeper and therefore a listener to podcasts during the night. The other night one such program profiled a whole heap of personality problems people can have and these possibly may be found in both staff and students. By the end of the program, I realised that for a teacher to know everything is not a possibility. However, if we take the time to be aware that there is likely to be more and all people are not the same, then this will be helpful. So the Babushka doll sits on the sideboard continually a witness to her message and a reminder to me of the complicated nature of human beings.
Written by Chris Tudor
