Blog
That Element of Balance
I don't know about you, but sometimes I have to make a conscious decision to ignore the news.
I like to be 'on top of things' and to be informed about new developments - I even enjoy a good debate - but sometimes at the moment I'm finding that the flow needs to be regulated.
It's taken some practice to deliberately decide that 'ignorance is bliss' for an hour or so, because it seems counter-intuitive at a time when new stories are plentiful and regular. It's important for our ongoing wellbeing though, and it's a life skill that will stay with us beyond our present pandemic worries.
That element of balance is key but we do have to take control because relying on a natural balance probably isn't sufficient.
Last week was a case in point, but you could be forgiven for not realising, because it didn't seem to get much of a mention...
On Thursday, English and Maths GCSE retake results were released. Not just to us, but across the country, results were issued to students who, in one way or another, had been affected by the cancellation of exams last summer. That's a significant number of young people who refused to let adversity get the better of them!
Not everyone passed - that's the nature of exams - but where were the congratulatory headlines that celebrated both the successes and the resilience required to 'give it another go,' relatively soon after schools reopened?
Our students and staff were preparing for, and sitting, papers even during the October half term, and they won't have been alone.
We have been delighted to see the successes achieved by candidates this week - we have loved the squeals of delight in some cases!
We've knew these were, for a variety of reasons, not the easiest of exams to prepare for - but we also celebrate the grit and determination of our young people - a resilience that is a credit to them.
Why aren't we as a nation celebrating the fact that some students are now picking themselves up, dusting themselves off and preparing to ‘give it another go' again - in the yet more uncertain circumstances of summer 2021? We should be - it's hard work to secure a grade 4 or higher, even when times are normal; we should be making it known that the next generation is learning from its experiences, and is developing the resolve to not give up easily.
We should be making a fuss.
What other good things have gone under the radar in recent weeks?
Have you noticed them?
How many of them will happen this week, and will you make a fuss about them in your own social networks?
