Last month I had the privilege of sharing time with our partner school staff and students at Tjuntjuntjara Remote Community School. The school is a little off the beaten track, but it holds an abundance of belonging, care and pride.
While there, one of the students took to marking a few places with a misplaced Sharpie pen, adding to some other bits of unwanted artwork around the school.
Principal Kerry didn’t wait long. After my visit, she shared that she had decided to try some affective language to make a change.
Armed with scourers, cloths and gumption, she began to clean the graffiti off the staffroom step handrails. She didn’t say a word until Student 1 asked, “What you doin’ miss?”
Without stopping, she replied, “When I see this writing on our school, I feel disappointed people are not caring for our school, and that makes me sad. If I clean it off, then I won’t have to feel sad.”
Five students later after the same query and the same response, Student 1 asked if she could help. In a matter of minutes, three kids were scrubbing off graffiti and the others were hunting it down, directing the ‘cleaners’ where to go next.
Another ten minutes and the school was almost graffiti free! No more male anatomy pics in sight.
It may have taken some elbow work and a bit of repetition, but the kids got the message that behaviour has an impact on others.
They couldn’t wait to be part of cleaning it up and sharing in the rewarding feelings of belonging, care for Miss Kerry and pride in their school.
Language matters.
As does picking up the rag to lead the change.
What rag might lurk near you, waiting for a small conversation investment, and a BIG RETURN?
