Learning, as simple as ABCD … or is it!

  

I was in school yesterday, governing body these days, but the shiver still goes down my spin as I step onto school ground… They say school days are the happiest of your life. I had happy times, but many days were among the most miserable so far. I am not here to dwell on abuse or incidents of victimisation, besides we didn't have safeguarding or hate crime in those days - they hadn't yet been invented!

Anyway, as is typical, yesterday the real learning happened in the pub afterwards! We got talking about the impact of capitalism on our thinking, how it creeps into the ether, clouding judgement and defining purpose for the young people towards whom we have a duty.  We moaned about the unfairness of taxation, inequality of pay and the fact that some people fall apart when they have no work. The usual really! Then we got real and had a learning adventure. We started a courageous conversation and exchanged brave feelings, all the while struggling to unravel complexities and think more clearly. I call it an in-the-car conversation, because you are safe and secure, and it’s a confidential space to explore ideas that could harm with those who trust you intention irrespective of right / wrong words.

Later, I got to thinking about my own journey! 20 years ago I was in a difficult place. I'd survived schooling, attained high grades, and presented myself as a willing member of the workforce! At the Jobcentre I was shown towards the local disability organisations, I’m not too sure why, although I can guess. I was proud of my recent graduation, I had achieved a joint degree in French and Psychology. I could appreciate the finer points of wartime prose and understood the importance of REM in the sleep cycle.  I was hoping to apply the Organisational Development component of Psychology to a job in Human Resourcing – then Personnel. Obviously a thinker able to deliver in leadership activity  - even back then – I was aiming far too high and wanting it all too quickly.

Sadly, after failing in the admin job I was hoping to be promoted from, I resigned... This took 3 years, but eventually with criticism and bullying from the boss, the situation got the better of me! After a period of ill health and floundering I bounced back.... 20 years on I'm a qualified professional, a facilitator and teacher, still mostly underemployed, but fully contributing to 4 organisations at strategic level!

What went wrong? How did all that learning fail to educate a citizen? Well, to oversimplify, I was schooled not educated.  I was graded on one scale of human endeavour, without being aware there was a whole portfolio of growth I could choose to explore in many directions. A pallet of gifts, which if exchanged, employed or savoured, could be enjoyed by many – including me. Unfortunately, we were encouraged to do what was financially sound. I can almost smell the 80s materialism that must have permeated the governance meetings.  We were told to get high paying jobs and pursue interesting hobbies! This kind of works if you actually like the job you do. However, if that's not the case, you're ... Shall we say stuffed? If like me basic competence is somewhat lacking in a few areas, a reductionist definition of attainment is lethal. Not acknowledging what was of worth to my community: my passion for people, conversation, and different arts. Thankfully I’ve now found that wholeness, therefore I will from now on always have a place to belong, a place to add value and a place to ‘do what Moles love doing best’.