News from Mr Grady
Hello Everyone,
I hope that Monday was a positive International Women’s Day for everyone. In all the planning and organisation of getting us back into school, we perhaps didn’t take quite the whole school approach that we might have done when we would normally all be in school, but I know teachers discussed it in individual lessons, and there was a form time story to mull over and discuss around the theme this year’ International Women’s Day “#choosetochallenge”.
In normal times, when we are welcoming prospective students to open evenings and induction days, I talk a lot about the fact that Rugby High School allows its young women to find a voice, a voice that they feel comfortable with, but a voice that they know they can use powerfully and sensitively for change. Your five or seven years at Rugby High School should be the chance to learn how to develop and use your voice. I think the theme of “#choosetochallenge” is an absolutely perfect one for our students in the current time. Too often, we are expected to accept or “make do” or simply “be quiet.” Or, when offering “challenge” we’re labelled as subversive or disruptive or difficult.
But the point is, in our school, where our ethos is one of mutual care, kindness and respect and our aim is to set heights in our heart, then we are perfectly placed to develop those skills of choosing to challenge in a way that makes our challenge heard, considered and responded to. I am reminded of a routine by the comedian Eddie Izzard, who in calling for a “liberal revolution” started with: “Let’s kick the doors in and say: “Look, we’ll pay for the damage…”” Capturing, certainly for me, the idea that one needs to challenge when you see something that isn’t right, but consider the voice and the manner of the challenge to ensure that you have the most impact.
I was also amused and, I have to admit a bit shamed by a stream on a social media site of a range of women having their work “mansplained” to them on the internet, where female scientists, authors, engineers and academics had their own work explained back to them by a range of men. At best they were misguided, at worst, simply misogynistic. The way in which these men were challenged was fantastic, showing them more patience than they deserved, but refusing to let their idiocy go.
So, while the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “#ChoosetoChallenge”, and that should apply to us all, I suggest for those of us with a voice that has a tendency to dominate, or by dint of our gender assumes an importance in conversation or interaction, whether intended or not, we should “#choose to stop talking and listen a bit more.”
Have a great week, stay well and safe everyone,
With very best wishes,
Mr Grady