A few weeks ago, my dog and I had the pleasure of spending the night with an old friend of mine and his wife down by the beach. The night was so enjoyable - two other old friends came over and we had a pleasant and jovial meal followed by a few hours of singing old songs we used to sing in our hiking days, through the nights, as we sat around the campfire. That would have been some 50 years ago, and I could still play them on the guitar and everyone remembered the words. The human mind is indeed amazing!

As human beings we tend to be social creatures and keeping up with old friends is to be highly valued even if they live so far away. These special friends of mine are all called John and believe or not are all engineers, two civil and one chemical. One of the civil engineers had spent part of his career designing and building bridges, a delicate and exacting undertaking. People of my age will sadly remember the West Gate Bridge which collapsed during construction, highlighting the need for precision engineering both at the design stage and in construction.

During my life I have crossed many bridges both actually and metaphorically and I appreciate the human skill that goes into, not only making them look good, but also safe and able to withstand the rigours of the environment. One of the bridges I have enjoyed crossing is that magnificent construction, the railway bridge over the Forth estuary in Scotland. The bridge to me is a work of beauty and has withstood the rigours of time and the environment for 134 years. It is 2,529 meters long and is comprised of 54,000 tons of mild steel plate. The bridge is held together by 6.5 million rivets (approximately).The work required to bash in this huge number of rivets by hand is mind blowing.

I have taken students across this bridge, and they have had to tolerate my excitement as I pointed out the vast number of rivets and explained how the original ones were put in. What a job! If the bridge is to stand safely this job must be done well.

How important is it as an educator to teach students to be good competent bridge builders.

So why must they learn this art? It is so they can become competent engineers of life. Well taught and encouraged this personal engineering will help their passage across many difficult streams. One of my family was on year 10 exchange overseas. In the first week she rang home and not unexpectedly, home sick. I listened sympathetically, but my other daughter advised “tell her to build a bridge and get over it.” I had never heard the saying and of course I have never forgotten it. My daughter did build a bridge and got over it and had a fantastic exchange.

It is always helpful to know which students really do need a hand to build a bridge and to be shown how to get over it and reach the other side. For some it is relatively easy but for others it is a difficult but much longer process. The student will benefit from the right kind of help, patience and understanding. It is important that the bridge is visible, crossing it can be seen to be achievable but should never be presented if it is a “Bridge Too Far”. A “Bridge Too Far” will only create a feeling of failure and discouragement. It is always problematic that when the bridge is presented to a group, it may not suit everyone and a teacher has to be sensitive to this. Encouragement is always valuable in the journey across the bridge as is asking how students are travelling in this journey.

Of course, this analogy also applies to teachers. It may relate to experienced teachers who are becoming jaded or finding a change difficult. It may relate to a personality issue or to managing stress or juggling too many responsibilities and not being able to do them all well. The Bridge can all of a sudden seem eternally long.

The Bridge may be that which is serving an inexperienced teacher and crossing it effectively requires some support and a watchful eye from an experienced teacher. But beware - the teacher may actually be hiding the fact they are actually struggling.

In the restoration work completed on the Forth Bridge in 2011, 500,000 modern very strong Tension Control Bolts were added to the structure. Maintenance and safety are a bridge that a Principle continues to walk over, seldom getting to the other side. Like with the Forth Bridge, upgrading is usually on the agenda. In my 30 years I was always bemused with some regulations which demanded a modern approach to something built currently. Though old regulations were out of date, construction relating to these were not always required to be updated even though they may be considered less safe. That of course provides a safety issue for a school board. “She’ll be right “is no longer acceptable. If modern “School Equivalent Tension Control Bolts” are required immediately, metaphorically or in reality, then they are required.

The Bridge for a School Principal of course is never ending. I contend that those who have been a school Principal really know what it is like but as time goes on they become more proficient at their “trade.” Certainly those with a natural bent towards the role will make a good “fist “of it from the start. However all Principals should realise the importance of on-going effective professional development. Though Principals often feel they are too busy to undertake PD they must, for the sake of the school, see it as a priority. A good idea can be “worth a million dollars” and will help their journey across the bridge.

Not everybody will cross the bridge at the same rate whether they be Principals, Teachers or Students. This understanding is really important for Principals and underpins their natural acceptance of the need to be tolerant. Sometimes politicians don’t understand this and want everyone to cross the bridge at the same rate. Students aren’t crafted like this. They don’t all mature at the same rate. Similarly new teachers learning the craft of being a teacher may not all progress at the same rate, some needing support for longer. Often in the game of teaching, in the quest to be fair, there is a desire to ensure that everyone has the same input - such an approach is problematic. Unfortunately, there are some aspiring teachers who will never cross the bridge because they don’t have the ability.

Sadly, teaching potential is often predicted by some officials considering ATAR results, particularly by some politicians, whereas effective teaching relies heavily on the capacity to relate to students, to be able to communicate with them and dedication.

Another challenging bridge for a Principal to cross, from time to time, is working with their Board to produce or update a strategic plan. This is obviously exciting but no “walk in the park”. I remember my first engagement with this was a real challenge which I found really difficult. Fortunately I was able to refer to my mentor who had been a really experienced Principal. If finding tasks like this difficult then reach out for assistance to help you cross the bridge.

The bridge is indeed an effective analogy and provides for Principals pictures of ongoing requirements and challenges which will make them successful at their job. The power of the picture-there is surely great strength in it.

Some Useful Quotes:

“You can’t achieve greatness if you’re not willing to put in the work.”

“Success is due to out stretching to the challenges of life. Failure comes when we shrink from them.”

- GEORGE STEPHENSON - Pioneering Railway Engineer

“It’s worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the lasting change.”

“With age does come experience and that can be a virtue if it is sensibly used.”

- QUEEN ELIZABETH II

“Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in Character and Goodness.”

“Whoever is happy will make others happy too.”

- ANNE FRANK. Wrote diary while hiding during occupation of Netherlands during World War 2. Died in Concentration Camp.

“You can’t shake hands with a clenched fist.” “Forgiveness is a virtue of the brave.”

- INDIRA GANDHI - Prime Minister of India

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

- RON BARRASSI-AUSSI RULES LEGEND

“I have learned you are never too small to make a difference.”

- GRETA THUNBERG- Young Climate Change Champion

Chris Tudor

Principal Liaison & AISNT Historian