teacher100 wrote:Why are people so convinced that something must be wrong, when so much is right? I don't know what I can say to convince people.
I can understand and accept that a teacher at the schools today would wish to ensure that there is no negative impact on the current schools, especially if they enjoy teaching there, as you appear to indicate.
The thing is, for those who have been let down, hurt or, god forbid, abused by the schools in the past then the protestations that the schools have changed and are the wonderful places they claim to be does nothing but belittle the experiences of those who have been failed. Remember that the schools claimed to be this wonderful back then too.
For someone who has been hurt, we don't want to know that things have changed particularly. We want people to understand the impact that their actions have had on us. We hope that they recognise these impacts, though there is nothing we can do to force them to see or accept the responsibility. We hope that where wrong doing is acknowledged or unintentional impact can be recognised that a humble and sincere apology is forthcoming. Then maybe we can begin to look at what motivated the people to do this to us and then maybe we can begin to recognise that the people may have changed and may have changed for the right reasons. This process holds a mirror up to everyone involved and shows people things that perhaps they do not wish to see.
For us who have been let down in the past, we are not convinced that something is wrong. We know something is wrong.
The parents that have chosen to remove the children today, stjparent and mm, and are having to deal with unwanted consequences also are not convinced that something is wrong; they too know something is wrong.
I know that a teacher at most can only do the best they can and must always be prepared to review what they consider the "best they can" to be.
I do not believe many (if any) of the teachers who taught me at St James to be bad people and even those who inflicted some of the worst I do not believe to be all bad or evil. In the SES and St James during my time in them, there was a self-righteousness about the place, many people conveyed an impression that they were superior for their belonging to the organisation and that in some way they were doing things of higher purpose. David Boddy's performance on Channel 4 confirmed to me that this arrogance and superiority is still present in the organisations. The lack of responsibility being taken in a demonstrable manner by the governors following the publication of the Townend report and their insistance that it is all in the past and not applicable to the schools today goes to reinforce that the organisations have not changed enough. Also the limitation of scope of the inquiry to date and so far the refusal by the organisations to investigate the effects of the philosophy either taught or pervading the schools indicates these self-righteous attitudes to still be present.
I'm not trying to tear the schools down or even criticise the schools today and I am certainly not saying that the schools are the same as the ones I attended over ten years ago. I am certainly aware of plenty of change and plenty of positive change too.
Also, I am not trying to criticise you, teacher100, or anyone else who chooses to believe the philosophies of the SES for whatever reason they do. Personally I believe that an individual's right to believe what ever they choose is fundamental. Yes the conversations here on this forum test that for me because yes there are people's minds I would like to change at times.
teacher100 wrote:I thought I had made quite a lot of salient and reasonable points. When I came on this website I was surprised that people did seem to be interested in what I was saying, but this seems to be no longer the case.
I have honestly pointed out as the situation as it is now and all I seem to be doing is creating more negativity, which I don't want to do.
As far as I am aware many moves are being made towards reconciliation as we speak, and I think this is a good thing.
A lot of rubbish has been written on this website about St James and the SES. I know this and I suppose I will have to be content with this.
I have decided not to post any more because I am not achieveing anything
I am pleased that you tell us about the schools today and about some of the things that you feel strongly about and are prepared to advocate on behalf of like the equality of woman in society. I am delighted that you have a modern and equitable marriage and I am most delighted that Vedic maths is no longer taught at the senior girls. I also am pleased that you are prepared to partake in this forum and I welcome you to continue to participate. I am pleased that you recognise that there is plenty more room for transparency and openess about aspects of the school and I welcome you playing a part in improving things.
I am sorry that you feel that your contributions have not been valuable and feel that you should no longer participate. Personally disagree that this is the case and I welcome the fact that you have been open in answering many of the questions that have been directed your way.
Until both sides are willing to see things from the perspective of others there will be no reconciliation. Most of us are not trying to destroy the schools or the SES, we are merely inviting the otherside to see things that we see in order that we can all move with our lives and ensure that wrongs of the past are not repeated in the future.
Bonsai