Further Reflections on Training with the Lakeside Schools Zurich and Shi Ram Schools Delhi

Lakeside school has got two campuses; Delhi’s Shri Ram School has four campuses – both asked me to train all their staff together.

It’s an interesting and complex challenge for everyone. However, different the campuses are (smaller or bigger buildings, concrete or tree-filled playgrounds…) what does need to be the same is the ethos and values.

The issue of conflicting values and different ways of carrying out school policies can even affect a very large secondary school on one campus. The only experience that can unite hearts, minds and actions is shared training.

Is absolutely essential if you want to unite people that every member of staff, teachers and non-teachers, all need to feel that they belong.

I have been to secondary schools where staff jealously have created their own coffee and chat stations and never visit the communal staff room.

Really impactful training should involve all staff in examining and exploring their core beliefs, I have huge numbers (see my Instagram on Indian schools). Whenever possible, as long as I have rows of chairs and not fixed sitting, I can move people around to engage in key conversations and fun games.

It’s absolutely key to share laughter together. Physically when you laugh, your brain releases endorphins, dopamine and exotoxin, hormones that actively foster emotional bonding and connections, and break down into personal barriers.

Emotionally, shared laughter signals that they see the world in the same way, the laughter ‘moment’ actively unites people.

I am deeply worried that there is very little laughter or joy in schools anymore, an INSET day that encourages people to play together reminds primary and secondary teachers of the power of fun. Training days that rely too strongly on PowerPoints or long speeches turn teachers off. Little do teachers realise they too turn children off, by forgetting to punctuate their lessons with fun and laughter.