I spoke to a school leader last week who wanted to know if we think every single Australian school should be in partnership with us. We don’t. Frankly, the thought of working with some of you terrifies me.
Here’s why.
At Real Schools, we’re clear about our mission: to cultivate strong, relationship-based, restorative cultures within as many schools as we can.
We understand that goals without aligned processes are often just waffly aspirations or convenient marketing. As James Clear aptly puts it, “If you genuinely care about the goal, you’ll focus on the system.”
That’s why we choose to partner with schools whose leadership teams share our goal of embedding restorative practices into daily operations. It’s not about being exclusive. It’s also not about insisting that every school should be mandated to implement our brand of RP. It’s about ensuring that our collaborative efforts yield a return.
If a school’s approach to student engagement and conduct differs from ours, we respect that choice and we wish them success. We really do.
In essence, it’s not about whose method is superior. It’s about alignment between goals and the systems designed to achieve them. Without that alignment, we’re likely doomed before we start.
My experience is that, when school leaders are forced to implement against their will, a typical response is somewhere between bare compliance and angrily flipping the bird in the general direction of head office.
So, we focus our energy where it aligns best – with schools ready to invest in the processes that lead to transformative outcomes.
And that’ll do us.
It’s worth wondering if your school’s leadership energy is aligned with your agreed mission too.
Keep fighting that good fight,
P.S. Do you reckon your school is one of those ready to cultivate a strong, relationship-based culture? Check out this video to find out more: What is a Real Schools partnership?
Or reach out via our website here.
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