Minnie’s Musings

I have been listening to Amal Rahman’s podcast Radical and his interview with Katherine Barbarsingh. Hugely enjoyable and thought provoking.

I like many of her ideas, particularly in relation to the importance of uniform and collective identity. I like her emphasis on discipline. I love her expectation that her students appreciate the importance of manners .

Her views on how much emphasis should be placed on difficult backgrounds and whether allowances can and should be made is more challenging.
This debate is hideously complicated. And this issue is hideously difficult to navigate in today’s education environment.

So, I am going to wade in and say that we should be sending a firm – if complex and nuanced – message to all our students. Namely, “I know your individual circumstances and the impact they have on your life. I appreciate that this scenario is a challenge for you. However I expect you to rise to the challenge and meet my expectations. I expect you to do this, because I believe you can. And I will help you to do so.”

I would combine this with “Your behaviour today was unacceptable. You know better and can do better.. I know this because I know you as a person and want you to make better choices for yourself. Because you matter.”

It matters to all students that they are listened to and heard. But it should also matter to that this does not always mean they are right and their expectations are always valid. Vibrant, ambitious adults can grow from young people who are challenged to go above and beyond their best, in their learning, their engagement and their behaviour, aided by the security of clear boundaries and clear expectations.