When Things Do Not Go as Planned

We live in an uncertain world; yet we long for certainty. How do we make sense of the world? How do we make sense of ourselves? How do we figure out the best way to make sense of everything?

I sometimes talk about the importance of routines, noting that life has its rhythms and habits and that when school goes well for students, life becomes more straightforward for families. Patterns, predictability and routines help.

We know, however, that in life, sometimes despite our best efforts, things don’t go to plan. And so, while we create and enjoy predictable routines at school, we also work to prepare our students to manage themselves when things don’t go as we, or they, have envisaged.

This term we saw an excellent example of this. For reasons that are not yet clear, as students across the country sat down to do their NAPLAN writing task, there was Australia-wide difficulty in accessing and staying connected to the NAPLAN testing site. IT staff across the country were worried that their school was the only one and then relieved that they were not alone.

Our students and staff were magnificent. Yes, routine was interrupted. Yes, things did not go to plan owing to circumstances beyond their control. Year 3 did their task on paper, as planned, with no interruption, Year 5 put the task back by a day as is possible in the provisions for NAPLAN, and then got on with their day. Year 7 tried to get in and couldn’t, but were calm, showing patience and forbearance. They were able to complete the task before lunch as opposed to before recess. Year 9 then had an early lunch, helped by the canteen/café staff, and completed the task after lunch rather than before it.

There were no histrionics. Students showed a maturity and understanding that indicates that the steady patterns and routines of their school day have helped them to be settled and to manage when things deviate from the expected. This is a good approach to be able to take into life.

It was interesting then, to listen to and read some of the commentary in the news and online about this NAPLAN incident. For some, it was as if the sky had fallen in, and this glitch was something unmanageable and traumatising for those subjected to it. I don’t think so. These things happen. Sure, it’s better if they don’t, but it’s how we respond that matters.

I remain mightily impressed that students conducted themselves in an appropriately nonchalant fashion, knowing that there are bigger concerns and issues in their world and the world today. In a world at war, perspective is knowing that a glitch in the completion of the NAPLAN writing test is, in the scheme of things, a minor inconvenience at best.

Our students did a different test that NAPLAN day: a test of character, and they passed with flying colours.

Tim Watson
Principal