Shopping or Teaching?

Friday began with a telephone call from China. Professor David Reynolds is continuing his work on Within School Variation (making sure there is consistency of quality across all Departments and teachers in a school) and he invited me to continue some of the research we have done together.

In an article in this week’s Times Educational Supplement I’m quoted as saying that a good school should be like Marks and Spencers: you know you get the same quality whether buying shirts, sausages or shoes. Did I say that? No, M&S are not paying me a retainer. It’s just a way of explaining why we need consistency.

An hour later another call from the British Council asks if I’m free for a week in August to lead a Conference in South America. This time the invitation is from Susan Douglas who I know reads my blogs. Susan, you’re quoted at last. I’d love to go but I have a prior booking in France- another time perhaps.

Then I receive one of those emails that remind teachers they can make a difference. I’m always quoting examples from colleagues who’ve received similar letters so it’s nice to receive one again. I used to teach in Norfolk at North Walsham Girls’ High School. Recently the new Head of Sixth Form from nearby Reepham High School visited us with former deputy, Chris Hassell, on a fact finding tour. It seems that I had taught his sister back in 1979. Her email read:

“The Best English TeacherMy brother, John Randall, just returned from visiting you at South Dartmoor College. When he mentioned your name, I remembered you very clearly from North Walsham Girls' High School.My name was Jackie Randall then. You took over in September 1979 and taught us English in room 9 in the Huts
I really enjoyed your lessons, especially as you had some of my essays read out, one called "A Breakdown in Communications" from a past O level paper, as my strength was maths but you increased my confidence in English.We were also studying Julius Caesar and you really brought it alive. One day, you brought in a cryptic crossword clue - something like "tradesman in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar" and I worked out the answer which was butcher, mainly because my parents always did the Telegraph crosswords on Saturdays and Sundays.Looking at your photo, you don't seem to have changed much.Like John, I recently moved from Head of Maths to Head of Sixth Form at Notre Dame High School in Norwich.
I can honestly say that I really had not enjoyed English lessons until you came along; thanks for being such a great teacher.”

Do head teachers have to have teaching experience? I certainly believe it’s essential. But there’s a debate now about whether it’s really necessary. I loved teaching and enjoyed getting to know classes and individuals well. Heads can do lots of things in their schools as well as working with distinguished professors of education or attending international conferences. But there’s nothing quite like the difference a teacher makes to an individual.

As Henry Adams wrote: “Teachers affect eternity; no one knows where their influence ends.” The quotation has been chosen to frame the certificates being given to our newly qualified teachers who are now about to have L plates removed.
However good the food and clothing at M&S, this is a claim they can never make, even if it seems to take an eternity at the check out. And that’s why we’re all in education and not retail!