For the sake of the island’s children, it’s time to stop squabbling and get behind Education team

This aura of wellbeing has been enhanced by two remarkable events; firstly, the near miraculous rescue of those boys trapped in the dark and cold over two miles under ground in Thailand. The management of this crisis by the Thai authorities was exemplary, banning any thoughts of national pride or embarrassment and welcoming international experts in cave rescue to assist their own Navy Seals. How this team overcame language barriers to work together, pool their experience to prepare and deliver a complex and successful plan demonstrates the power of human cooperation: the whole was certainly greater than the sum of its parts. Then when the job was done the divers eschewed the limelight, denied heroism and returned to their day jobs. How refreshing in this world where many crave celebrity.

Secondly there has been the resurgence of English international football under the leadership of Gareth of the wonderful waistcoats. He created a team comprising many relatively unknown youngsters, brought energy and some joie de vivre to our national team who were modest in success and dignified in defeat and laid the foundation for future success. And they were a team, mutually supportive during the games and ‘good mates’ off the pitch. Once again success was achieved through collaboration rather than in previous years by putting together a collection of individual, overpaid prima donnas protecting their celebrity status.

Wouldn’t it be good if we could distil this spirit of cooperation and mutual support to see us through a winter of discontent, rather as our ancestors did when they brewed sloe gin? As our summer fades, the nights lengthen, barbecues and bathers stored away, we as a community really do need to come together and support one another, stop the bickering and attempting to belittle each other in order to elevate ourselves. This is true in many areas of our island life but none more important than education, particularly in the months ahead. Of course, we will disagree and it will be right to probe proposals from States committees for weaknesses. However, let’s do it in a constructive way through open debate and not secretively from dark corners through anonymous expressions of bile and personal invective on our electronic devices.

Although I’m now an old man, I came to Guernsey 59 years ago as a young enthusiastic teacher to teach at the brand new and sparkling Les Beaucamps Secondary School and I was left in no doubt by locals that I should consider myself fortunate to be appointed to the job. As time went by I began to realise that this school was an act of faith by the people of Guernsey, at a time when the island was slowly emerging from the devastation caused by Nazi Occupation. This would be the first time that 70% of the youth living in St Martin’s, St Andrew’s, St Peter’s, Torteval, St Saviour’s or the Castel had access to a full secondary curriculum and onwards to further education. Since those early days education has changed beyond anyone’s dreams. When I see the photographs of the school proms with tall young men and women bursting with health and energy looking confidently out at me and compare them with the students I encountered on that first day at Les Beaucamps it would seem that a different race of humans had taken over the island. This is largely attributable to the island’s increasing investment in its education and health services and of course its healthy economy.

From these photographs all would seem to be well with these services but this is not wholly true in respect of education, where disputes and dislocation have riven the elements involved in the service. Luckily so far this has had little impact on the students, thanks to the efforts of some very good teaching. However, letters to the Press, political wrangling over an extended period and the Guernsey grapevine all indicate a climate of discontent and anxiety about the management of the service.

How can this be when generally there has been great support over the years both at public and political levels, matched by a will to provide a generous allocation of public funding for the service? Like most such issues the problems have been generated slowly, over a decade and a half leading to a lack of confidence. I believe that a major factor has been the creation of departmental silos following the machinery of government debate in 2004, leading to departments becoming inward-looking and resistant to external influence. In his report to the States in 2007 on the States as an Employer, Graeme Robinson, described Guernsey Government as 10 independent and separate governments. He was highly critical of the model as it prevented the building of cross-departmental teams when complex issues required expertise from a number of sources. This has been a particular problem for Education where a ‘Control and Command’ style of management discouraged cross-department team-building.

In an island where so many people give of their time and expertise to enrich the life of young people, this insularity by some States departments has stood out like a painful boil.

Just think of the hundreds of youngsters from as young as five trooping to their local clubs on Saturday mornings to learn the beautiful game come rain or shine, and the coaches who turn up every week to teach them, not only ball skills but self-discipline, loyalty, promptness and respect. And on occasion give them breakfast if they arrive unfed.

Think of all the sports and hobbies; of music, drama, art, the uniformed organisations, natural history groups etc. etc. In recent years think of the more formal organisations such as the Sports, Arts and Youth councils who have done so much to enhance standards and promote talent.

Learning takes place everywhere and everyone has a part to play, from the day of their birth until we all die. In the early days of life parents and particularly mothers play the most important part, particularly in developing language and communication. As the child grows older many others become involved.

Recent neurological research has been able to study living human brains for the first time ever, thanks to the evolution of electronic and magnetic scanning technology and what a revelation this has proven to be. Most important for educators is the discovery that enormous developments happen to the human brain in the period of adolescence. So, their rapid physical growth, changing voices, emotional state, and growing self-awareness originate not just from hormonal changes as until recently believed but from the massive developments within their brains. Parents can no longer say with any credibility ‘Oh I leave education to the teachers’ because students need a whole range of experiences far beyond those of a defined group of professionals if their brains are to develop anything like their potential.

This is why employers can play such an important part along with all those listed above. We are all responsible in some way for our children’s future and if we are not to fail them we need to act together just like those cave divers in Thailand or our soccer team. If we choose to squabble, quarrel, try to undermine those managing the formal education process we will fail our island and our children. The island got rid of one team, created another and as soon as it gets to grips with the issues there are those seeking to undermine its authority and confidence. I say to them ‘what do you want to achieve by this, will a third lot get your support and if so will you try to replace them as well?’

For what my 60 years’ experience in the realms of education and learning is worth, I believe that Matt Fallaize’s team of varied talents, ages and experiences are on the right track to giving us a high-quality service. I don’t agree with them on everything and they will get things wrong; if they don’t they won’t learn anything.

I know many parents are worried about bigger secondary schools but please think carefully: when children move into secondary education they are already embarking on adolescence and are undergoing the changes that will bring them to adult life. In order to thrive their brains will need the richness that comes from a much wider curriculum than before; small schools, however good their teachers are, cannot embody the range of skills to provide this. I have experienced this with four of my grandchildren living in Wales, how being in large, well-managed schools has opened their eyes to learning opportunities they never dreamt existed and of professions they’d never heard of before.

As Dennis Mulkerrin reported to the States in 2011 ‘the most important asset a school has is its teachers’. Providing teachers themselves with a rich and full diet of professional experience and satisfaction is not only more likely to attract the best, it will also enable Guernsey to keep them. For the children, having a virtually unimpeded pathway through statutory education and beyond will be a novel and unthreatening experience and one without the traumas of failure and perceived rejection, at the inappropriately early age of 11 years, one where past failures can be allowed to inform future success.

So please Guernsey think first of our children, all and every child, stop the wrangling, get behind your Education service because united we stand divided we must surely fall.

Matt might not have Gareth’s natty line in waistcoats but he does display a nice choice of well ironed shirts and crisp ties and the energy of the young.

DICK TAYLOR

Former Deputy Director of Education,

Education and Training Advisor to the Guernsey Financial Services Commission, Industrial Disputes Officer.