Yesterday I attended the second #DiverseEducators Conference @AureusSchool, Didcot,
It was a challenging, powerful and inspirational
day
Here’s my take on it and, most importantly a Call to
action….
WHY were
we there?
Here are the reasons we gave at the start (using Mentimeter)
WHAT was
it like?
Led by the indefatigable Hannah Wilson ( @The
HopeFulHT ) the day comprised a powerful keynote from inspirational Angela
Browne ( @nourishedschool ) followed by workshops and ending with another
stunning presentation by Iesha Small ( @ieshasmall ) A day
packed with powerful stuff attended by well over 1OO diverse people.
There was honest storytelling and witnessing - all painful to
hear... exemplifying experiences of living in a society not yet relaxed
about diversity. It was intellectually,
professionally and personally bruising... you couldn't help but
breathe it in. I was in a minority, rare for me..... a little,
old, privileged, white man…. but I knew I could leave the conference and travel
home alone, without any of the fears and watchfulness I'd been reminded
of...... I felt, at times ashamed, tearful, frustrated and
angry - that made up my hurt. Thank goodness I was also inspired,
impressed, hopeful and above all buoyed by the positive if snatched
conversations with individuals.... Today, Sunday, I was going to take it
easy but I can't... I remain driven to try and make a difference...and
especially pass on some thoughts about turning HURT into PURPOSE... it’s what I
try to do...but HOW might I help?
HOW might
Consensual Leadership be one way of making a positive difference....
Well.... the HURT
I felt yesterday is linked to the HURT I felt when traduced by a Local
Councillor (previous BLOG), and linked to the HURT I feel when trying to debate
politics reasonably and am abused (earlier BLOGS)... In other words the HURT
is an element of wider worry. I'll try to explain the wider view....
(For readers of my
earlier BLOGs on Consensual Leadership – there is some repetition – jump to So What Next?
I'm increasingly
frustrated, like many others, about the rise in apparent acceptability of what
may be called macho, domineering, oppressive and authoritarian styles of
behaviour in politics, business and, my own profession, education. Bullying,
racism, abuse, rape, violence and threatening behaviour have, sadly, always
been with us but, in recent years it feels like they have been on the
increase. Statisticians provide the numbers but we, the livers of our
lives, know our feelings drive how we respond. Perhaps we are just noticing it
all more. Certainly, intemperate and oppressive behaviours are gaining
popular coverage in the virtual and, perhaps consequently, our actual
reality. As people "take to the streets" in ever increasing
numbers - the extremists capture the headlines.... It can be depressing and
there is a huge temptation to look the other way, switch off... walk over the
road to walk on the other side.
On the other hand
there has been an increasing realisation, in many, that such behaviours should
and must be challenged and there have been powerful examples of successful
prosecutions of individuals who abuse, especially (but not exclusively) in the
area of relationships and sexual relations. This has been the case in many high-profile
court cases in the UK and US, to the extent that when sexual relations are not
consensual they are deemed illegal. The painfully slow increase in
successful prosecutions for rape, abuse and coercive behaviour by men (and
sometimes women) has been a cause for muted celebration.
The brave movement #MeToo, led by offended women, has been responsible for highlighting this issue and causing a deep rethink, amongst women and caring men. I wanted to explore a simple question.
If consensual relationships are a
legal requirement in personal relationships,
shouldn't we apply the same principle
in our working relationships?
So, this is a work
in progress and I want to pay a special debt of gratitude to #WomenEd who first
gave me a platform for asking the question and supporting the exploration of
the idea and hopefully some answers and to Hannah
Wilson ( @The HopeFulHT ) who asked me to run a workshop on making it happen.
SO WHAT NEXT?
Before looking at
the materials please read the CALL
TO ACTION
Below you’ll find
a link to the materials – they are a work in progress – but they explain.
- Thinking behind and around the concept of Consensual Leadership.
- Why it’s so important and timely.
- How we might Lead and Teach in a more Consensual way, to become even more successful.
- What we can measure when evaluating and planning for improvement in progress.
- How to collaborate on further thinking and most of all ACTION on Consensual Leadership.
CALL TO ACTION
Most will agree with the following
quotation
"All that is required for evil
to prevail, is for good men and women to say nothing."
(variously attributed to: John F. Kennedy? Edmund
Burke? R. Murray Hyslop? Charles F. Aked? John Stuart Mill?
Discussing, analysing and debating are important
but in the end unhelpful. Jack
Nicholson's character in "As Good as it gets" says it best,
"Hey, I'm drowning here and all
you're doing is describing the water!"
Philosophers, journalists, politicians,
activists, artists, writers, poets all have place but unless there is a
"Call to action" and someone: throws a rope; launches a lifeboat or
holds out a hand the drowning will drown.. the failing fail.... the suffering
will suffer and the dying will die.
Rope ready...
The MATERIALS can be downloaded here
I'm especially interested in
collaborating in finding ways that the idea can be turned into positive, day to
day, actions and activities by teachers, leaders and fellow citizens who feel
that enough is enough and some new codes of behaviour need to be agreed (or old
ones held in greater regard). It is crucial that our educational provision
not only raises the concepts of consensual behaviour, tolerance and respect
and but also teaches our young citizens how to turn the concept into more
of a lived experience by thinking critically and acting with care.
John
January 2019
