I have had a couple of conversations recently about the importance of awe in our lives, focusing on that part of the definition of awe relating to wonder and not fear. “They gazed in awe at the beautiful painting” or “they were awed by the beauty of the music”. “She was in awe at the skill of the gymnast”. “He was in awe at the beauty of the desert sunrise”. “They were in awe at the skill of the sheep dogs.” “She was in awe at the power of the sea as the waves came crashing in.”

The conversations were about the value of awe in our lives and as teachers in the lives of students. Some psychologists have suggested that focusing each day on something that inspires awe in a person really does enhance their wellbeing. This does resonate with me in a world so often dominated by negativity, presented so readily by the media. Ultimately, I believe too much of this is unhealthy. Some psychologists see awe as a rather extreme experience. I’m seeing it in a broader context than this and therefore more attainable. My own experience is that it doesn’t have to be vastly dramatic to make a difference.

I was “U Tubing” how to play a piece of music and stumbled across a woman playing the “Ashgrove” on the violin. I have known the Ashgrove for about 60 years, but never taken it on as something special. This presentation was brilliant and I was in awe at how she played it and indeed the beauty of the music. It is a traditional Welsh folk song with the more recent arrangement by the great composer Benjamin Britten. There are a variety of lyrics to it, but the best know were written by Thomas Oliphant in the 19th century - I think they are superb! I found another presentation with a woman singing it, accompanied I guessed by a harp. I think my appreciation of the piece was enhanced because my discussions about awe enabled me to hear the music in more detail.

I guess I have played it 50 times and am not sick of it yet. It certainly has had a really positive effect on my wellbeing. And understanding the value of awe lead me not to dismiss the tune but to almost have a licence to absorb it more deeply.

If indeed focusing on something of awe does enhance wellbeing, isn’t this a great thing to teach our students and to encourage them to look for something which will be awe-inspiring to them each day. There are so many awesome things to absorb in life but the frantic pace of modern existence can cause us to fly well over the top of them.

I’d like to share with you a line in the Ashgrove - very simple: “The blackbird cheerfully singing”. Not long after this I was out at Redbank Waterhole. I really enjoy watching birds and find their habits fascinating. Well, I spied a Kingfisher and immediately wondered, as he sat on the branch, whether he was “cheerfully singing” and if he was, why was he? My mind continued to wander into the world of the Kingfisher……. surely a positive experience.

I had a dog “Sketch”, Healer/Staffy cross and everything else. Though Sketch went aloft many years ago my mind can still focus on her and I can get my daily dose of awe from this memory. She was a remarkable dog and a real favourite with the students. She accompanied me everywhere and at school assemblies, when she wasn’t observing students from the lighting bridge, she lay on the stage, sheepdog style, I guess ensuring that their behaviour was acceptable. She would then accompany me to my office and ensconce herself on a chair. She was a dog of great importance.

Her real awesomeness occurred when she and I went to class, and she would choose a student whom she would sit next to. Invariably she would choose a student who would benefit from her company. I was always amazed by this. Dogs can have awesome sensitivity!

Though there are many students who will probably find the awesome daily, there is no harm, as a teacher, to point out that this is indeed good for them and for all people.

Teaching is definitely a challenging profession. In a school a teacher is not dealing with a group of clones, but with a group of individuals. Similarly a Principal is dealing with a staff of individuals. The challenge is to try and get the best out of both students and staff. A feature of this is to promote the positive. Sure there will have to be times when the negative requires attention, but so much good can be done via the positive. My memories of Principals in my early days of teaching were that they seemed happier presenting the negative and of course this would infiltrate the culture of the school - not a good thing. I believe that negatives lead to negatives and positives lead to positives. It is not unexpected that some negatives will appear in a positive environment but if it is strong enough it will be unlikely that it will redirect that positive spirit.

Nevertheless, teaching is a challenging job and can be disheartening on occasions. The Principal must always carry with them a bag of encouragement which, I believe they should use freely: a smile, a “good on you”, a short positive conversation, a longer positive conversation, a note, a card, a small present, a surprise for morning tea. There are many more which a Principal can use and they may provide the awe for the teacher that day.

I think a Principal has an important role in “talking up” the job, making teachers feel the value of their career and how they can truly make a difference. Always be on the lookout for the disheartened teacher who may need a “leg up”.

Yes, teaching is an awesome profession. Regardless of anything else encouraging students to find and absorb their daily awe and doing that also for teachers is really helpful.

But Principals need looking after as well and they shouldn’t neglect their own awe-inspiring daily experience because they are too busy, or forget, or don’t see it as their right as well.

I am fascinated by steam engines and have two models - a stationary one and a mobile locomotive. Besides being fascinating they are a fertile source for analogies. I think students find them interesting because they are from another era. A steam engine won’t work if there is no fuel in the firebox! That fact is the basis for make a variety of points. However a steam engine requires patience because it won’t work until it has time to build up a head of steam. Yes another thought provoking fact. It is always a double lesson for students when I am actually showing them a model steam engine working, because they have to wait that 5 agonizing minutes for the water to boil and the steam to build pressure before there is action. This waiting generates suspense. Students are not necessarily familiar with this requirement for patience. Today, we get into the car, turn the key and, magic, it starts. It is a “so what” experience, whereas seeing the steam engine spring into life and actually work, particularly after having to wait. For many, this is an awesome experience.

SOME QUOTES WHICH MIGHT BE HELPFUL

“It’s only a thought and a thought can be changed.”

-  Louise Hay (1926-2017) American motivational author and professional speaker

“Leadership is an elusive concept, hard to describe and impossible to prescribe. It is more evident in its absence, so when it’s needed, its lack is sorely felt.”

- Patrick Dodson, Senator for Western Australia and leading Indigenous rights activist, widely regarded as father of reconciliation.

 “Failure doesn’t come from falling down. Failure comes from not getting up.” “Success is often a matter of hanging on longer, when others have given up.”

- Michael Long OAM Former Essendon Aussi Rules Football Great of Aboriginal descent who is a spokesman for Aboriginal rights and against racism in sport.

“If you hang around waiting for the right answer, you’re going to be waiting all your life.”

- Hon. Tanya Plibersek Federal Minister for the Environment and Water.

“Good advice is certain to be ignored, but there is no reason not to give it”.

- Dame Agatha Christie Famous English Crime Author.

“Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by traffic from both sides”.

- Baroness Margaret Thatcher Former British Prime Minister

“People I admire have two qualities: a kind of simplicity, and a generosity of spirit. It seems to me that the more impressive people are in what they have done, the simpler they tend to be in how they talk to you, or in what they say or write.” “I was elected by the women of Ireland who instead of rocking the cradle, rocked the system.”

- Mary Robinson first woman President of Ireland 1990-1997, then United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights 1997-2002.

Chris Tudor

Principal Liaison & AISNT Historian