Core Values for politics

Having spent a lot of time this week in conversations with teachers about core values it seems timely to consider the political process.  If the house of commons had a praise pod, (and why not) what would both sides of the house agree as keywords?

"I've been sent to the praise pod for listening carefully and keeping my ballot papers still until the speaker had finished."

So as schools work hard to encourage teamwork, sharing, co-operation and thinking about others through tons of labelled praise, what do we see in the house of commons. . . belittling of others' ideas, put-downs, insults, fault finding, and an endless and senseless focus on criticising opponents for no other reason than they are 'the opposition'

So here's a thought:  let's give a school council the chair in a parliamentary debate, and set up some positive behaviour rules for both sides.  Then let's see how much more creativity and problem-solving results.

Seems the principle of modeling needs revisiting.  Anyone who works with children knows that without leading by example our words are meaningless.

Cross phase work

Lovely to see pictures of Upper Shirley High students painting the praise pod backdrop for one of their feeder schools.  USH's vertical tutor groups make this kind of activity so natural. . . why wouldn't you take care of younger pupils and help them look forward to what's going on at secondary school once you think of them as part of your family?

Here's to a time when 'transition work' is a concept from the olden days when schools were separate and did stuff to try to soften the edges.  We have the tools now (and have always had the will) to move from transition to true togetherness.

I'm yet to meet a family that has separate sittings at tea-time based on their children's age. . .