I know I have written several articles about “difference”, but it is so important to tackle this characteristic from all angles in schools and appreciate how it enriches your community.

I went out to Redbank Waterhole for a night over the long weekend. It was terrific to be in the bush and watch my grandchildren enjoy fishing, (yes fishing), and enjoying the bush. It was a beautiful Centralian spot and reminded me of how lucky I am to be living in this Outback Land.

After singing songs around the camp-fire my dog and I turned in under the exquisite canopy of the Centralian night sky. The stars are breathtaking and seemed close enough to touch. Through the night I followed the journey of the Southern Cross as it floated through the sky. It was such a wonder to track. The Southern Celestial Pole remained in the same positon even as the Cross and the two Pointers (alpha and Beta Centauri) moved. I had fun checking this through the night.

This activity made me think of the most valuable job in the world. Teaching. Teaching is the oldest profession and the survival of Humanity relies on it. My mind floated to teacher training, the amazing diversity of schools that exist in the NT and the variety of challenges they face. Teachers undertake similar training at university but then head out to teach such a diverse range of students in a wide range of locations. Teachers must be enthusiastic, dedicated and willing to adapt to a significant variety of situations, a challenge in anyone’s book. How terrific teachers are as they take on these challenges no doubt feeling daunted at times.

Over 40 years I watched how hard the first and probably the second year for teachers. The long hours of work and having to cope with new and unfamiliar situations. However they would be driven on by enthusiasm and the passionate desire to teach and make a difference to their students. As we know some students are enthusiastic about being taught but some are not and can be very difficult to handle. But like the Southern Cross moving through the sky teachers are dedicated to moving all students towards the Pole of Success. No matter where the Cross is in the sky, it in conjunction with its pointers will always point south. (Obvious: both South and Success start with “S” a golden letter worth keeping at the front of the mind). As Principals one of our pleasurable tasks it to generously affirm our teachers and support them in their very special work.

Part of the huge challenge for teachers is to understand the differences in their students and to work with them accordingly, assisting them on their particular journey towards Success whatever Success is for them.

But what about the Difference?

Last year I saw an interview with Bruce Woodley of the Folk Group, The Seekers. This was part of the celebration of the life of Judith Durham, their talented lead singer. The Seekers were an Australian Folk group who shot to fame when their song “I’ll Never Find Another You” reached number 1 in the UK in 1956. Subsequently their hit “Georgy Girl” became their greatest hit and number 1 in the USA making them the first Australian group to do this. For a time they even knocked the Beatles of the top spot.

Bruce Woodley, who became famous for writing “I am Australian” with Dode Netwon of “Bushwhakers” fame in 1987, spoke about the unique sound generated by the Seekers. I listened to my old Seeker records during the COVID lockdown and once again appreciated the quality of their sound as a group. What is worth observing is that all did not sing with perfect pitch. Judith Durham did, Athol Guy did, Bruce was a smidgen flat and Keith Potger was a smidgen sharp. Could be the other way around. But the result was an amazing combination of voices which won the world. I doubt if anyone ever said they were slightly out of tune. If they had all been at perfect pitch the sound would not have been the same and dare I say not as good.

I discussed this with a talented music teacher who worked with me for years and is still teaching music. I know that he is pitch perfect. He observed that professional musicians will often want to tune their instruments by ear rather than with a digital tuner. This can create a very slight variation in pitch to that created digitally. The beauty of a string orchestra with its soothing but rich sound comes because of this very slight variance.

I have ‘OK’ pitch but not perfect pitch. When tuning my guitar I rely on a digital tuner. Years ago when I was in a bush Band we had a visiting guitarist playing a few “gigs” with us. He was a genuine, professional, classical guitarist. He was horrified to see that I used a digital tuner and said he never did because the ‘perfect digital tuning’ would undermine the sweetness of the tone which could only be found as a result of tuning by ear, carefully working on the very sensitive relationship between each string.

Now years later my mind being stimulated by Bruce Woodley’s comment and my inquisitive nature, has lead me into conversations with a true musician and the thrill at listening to his explanation. Will my guitar sound sweeter if I dare to trust my ear a little more, refining what the digital tuner has started? Yes, it certainly does! However I can only do this if in my final tuning I concentrate on the sound of the guitar and how each string relates to another and ultimately how much I like a chord when play it.

As Principals it is worthwhile being fully sensitive to the student body and the Differences that exist within it. Often the various testing and dare I say digital analysis doesn’t always pick the subtleties of the student body. It is always valuable to FEEL how the school is going. I believe that the “Feel” is realistic and important. I also know when visiting other schools you can definitely sense a “feel” which may be positive or not. The individual nature of the students and how they are “Tuned” will produce the ‘Sound” of the School Atmosphere. In its own way the school is like an “Orchestra”!

Similarly, it is valuable to gauge the “feel’ amongst the staff. It is best not to rely simply on various forms of data without taking on deck how you Feel the Staff are Feeling.

Back to the instruments. The sound of the instruments will not only rely on tuning them even if it is carefully done. Each instrument will have its own tone relating to the material it is made from and how it is made. Wood for example will vary according to the quality, origin, polish and age. I have heard that some guitars are made from wood cut at night, taking into consideration the movement of the sap and its ultimate effect on tone. The Violin, Guitar and families of stringed instruments rely heavily on the type of wood used and the care taken in the crafting of the instrument.

Every student and staff member are made differently, and life will not have weathered them the same. They will have different characteristics and abilities. No two will be the same. As I reflect on my life as a teacher, my mind drifts across many, many students and their differences. One I recall, rally struggled in class with academic subject. It is always amazing how some students who struggle maintain enthusiasm and of course many of them don’t. However put this student in the Art room and there was no stopping his capacity to create. Another student I taught years ago struggled to do basic reading writing etc. however he had such a brilliant personality and I predicted life would be fine for him. Some of my brilliant teachers had produced low ATARS at year 12 but wow, they were terrific communicating and relating to students. They were OUTSTANDING Teachers.

Staff and students are complicated and require continual thought and creative understanding. It is good to empathetically analyse them as one does with instruments. There are times when “Digital Tuning’ may seem very desirable as indeed is the notion of a homogeneous class which can be projected unrealistically at times when a teacher is in training. But that is not the reality of a school with its staff or student body. Understanding and Accepting Difference and Celebrating it is where the Reality, the Beauty, the Climate and Tone of the School is to be truly found.

SOME THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK THAT MAY BE USEFUL

Sing a song well, sounds good and people will listen.

Sing a song poorly and people won’t listen.

If you really can’t sing, then recite well. There is so often another way to achieve something.

Cricket Bats are made of willow, a tough but forgiving wood. If they are made from a wood without these characteristics they will likely break.

Writing plus no thought = no sense

Writing plus thought = sense

Writing plus good thought = good writing

To do something worthwhile is to grow. To do something not worthwhile achieves nothing

Newton’s First Law of Motion as it applies to being a Principal – a situation will remain at rest or travel in a straight line unless an external force is applied to it. If you do nothing the status quo is likely to remain. Explanation: change won’t occur unless you take some action to produce it.

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear – Mark Twain.

Written by Chris Tudor