‘I wasn’t feeling that story anyway’ … so says Robert Peston in the British Airways safety video, as he dutifully demonstrates packing away his laptop, and storing it securely for take-off.
As I head to Japan (on a BA flight) for the Hakuba Forum, where I hope to learn, grow and explore, alongside other educators and leaders in their fields, I note that I have started – and abandoned – no fewer than 3 blogs over the past 9 days. I might well return to any of them – and more of my ideas that I have been processing – over the next few months, because I would love to share my thoughts and reflections about some or all of the following:
- enduring relationships, which was brought home to me in Sydney last week, as I picked up again, almost seamlessly, with numerous friends and colleagues, despite having been physically absent for 5 years;
- the spread of disciplined student-centred, project-based learning, drawing on the progressive work happening in the ScotsX programme that I had the privilege to see in practice at Scots College Sydney (with thanks to Dr Hugh Chilton and former colleague Dr Ian Lambert);
- the fractures of the past, and how they haunt our society now, unless we find ways to forgive, drawing on thoughts about the performance of ‘Stolen’ that I saw at the Wharf Theatre in Sydney, about the Stolen Generation – such a powerful performance.
But, as Robert Peston’s words encapsulate, I clearly wasn’t quite feeling any of these stories quite enough to be able to write them down succinctly and clearly – probably because everything is a bit of a whirlwind at the moment, and I had so many thoughts and reflections to draw on. A gluttony of riches, even, and my heart overflowing … What I am clear about, however, is how much I am looking forward to Hakuba. 4 days of thinking, learning, reflection with friends and new friends … what a wonderful opportunity to grow, and contribute to educational growth on a wider scale.
This is a story in the making, and it is one that I am definitely feeling!
Speak soon … 😊
