‘One of the things that we never discuss, or we rarely discuss, is the value of human connection.’
Rita Pierson
In the, almost exact – not quite but shhh, words of Rita Pierson, ‘every person reading this blog has been affected by a teacher or an adult.’
It seems almost poetic that ‘bear all or part of the weight of; hold up’ was the first definition for support – the idea that we bear the weight of something or hold each other up resonates deeply with me. In education we are a community that holds each other up during hardship and bears the weight of our collective responsibility for the next generation.
Reflecting on my time in education, I have noticed that the foundations of my identity as a teacher is support – no, I’m not talking about differentiation and support in that sense, but the care with which I interact with those around me, whether that be a student, parent or colleague.
For the past two years, I have had the pleasure of being one of two ‘persistent absentee’ form tutors in my school and the idea that I bear the weight of the form’s problems is fundamental to this. If I am being entirely truthful, this is the most emotionally-tiring but fulfilling role I have ever been asked to do, and as expected I approached it with Boxer-like mentality, pushing my limits as an emotionally intelligent human being. Yet, I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to champion for these students and give them the attention and understanding they so desperately seek. As a middle leader, this was the most challenging but rewarding role I could take on, giving me a keen insight into dealing with some of our most hard-to-reach students and families. The stark realisation that our roles as educators reach far beyond that of the classroom and that not every child is privileged enough to have a champion in their corner has shook me to my very core. I was fortunate enough to be positioned to affect change, to reach out and offer a new breed of support they have not previously been accustomed to.
But above all of this, I believe it has been the honour of holding each other up that has been the most fruitful part of this initiative. Not only did it provide a platform to advocate for these students but it was breath-taking to watch them create their own community in which they supported other members of the form, myself included, without question, in a way that was meaningful and heart-felt. Learning to trust others and support unconditionally has been a crucial element of their time together and is something that can never be taken away from them.
It has taught me that being a champion for our students is the greatest gift we can bestow as educators. A culture where we value support as the foundation of our relationships and purpose is inevitable.
I highly recommend Rita Pierson’s TedTalk – it was massively influential on my views of ‘championing’ students.
If you haven’t seen the #DailyWritingChallenge from @Ethical_Leader on Twitter you need to get on there and have a little poke around. It’s a great way to keep you occupied during the Lockdown, whether you are writing your own response to the challenge or reading others!
A Scouser's Guide to Education 