Education for Empowerment

Despite still not writing as much as I would like, I have found myself reflecting more and more upon the journey that I have been on through education and the experiences that I have come across in 20 years of practice.

April 2001 and I was stood at the counter of a video store, till-side, contemplating my next move. I love movies, and in some respects managing a video store would be a dream job (not that many exist anymore) but I really didn’t feel that at the time. Myself, my family and my partner had invested a lot into education and not only did we all value and appreciate that as a means unto itself, but I also felt a sense of compulsion to continue along that path and to also give some small element of that back to the wider community.

By chance, an advert came up in the paper I was reading (it was a slow day for business) and I was immediately struck by the words “instructor required, supporting young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.” A degree was all that was required, so I called and soon after found myself working with a small group of teenagers who had been permanently excluded from the mainstream with a dedicated team of staff who were there to support them.

And by support, it means exactly that. Conversations, games, life-lessons and a re-creation of the sense that there were people out there who cared for you and that there were always possibilities if you were prepared to look for them and maybe had someone to help you along the way. Get to know the children. Talk to them at their level and show a genuine interest in what they are saying and in what interests them. Ask them questions that help them to explore and reveal who they are as people and also show something of yourself in return. Simple, human responses and actions that help to build a sense of trust and a bond that allows for deeper connections.

This was what I knew I wanted and this philosophy has stuck with me every inch of the way since. Fads for teaching and learning come and go. New technology, traditional approaches, updated terminology and structures that seem to be recycled every few years, but relationships remain at the heart of everything that we do. If you can build a common sense of understanding with the people who are around you (children, families, colleagues, wider networks) you can create a foundation that allows for, and encourages, growth.