From the Director of Pedagogy and Innovation

Hem, Haw, Sniff and Scurry – Models of Dealing with Change

I was lucky to spend some time with my Year 11 class this week thinking about the process of change and different positions we can take during periods of flux. Using Dr Spencer Johnson’s book Who Moved My Cheese we dug into the inevitability of change and what holds us back from dealing with change confidently and proactively. In this allegory the four protagonists Hem, Haw, Sniff and Scurry are presented with a situation where they must adjust or perish. They all take different approaches from ignoring and living in denial to anticipating changes and benefiting from new situations. While simple and light-hearted, it spoke truth to current societal challenges. 

We are living in a world of rapid progression with AI, growing automation, reduced human contact as well as growing loneliness and isolation. Businesses are in positions where they need to address the shifting technologies, lest they get left behind. Out of interest I went through my local supermarket and counted the number of staff working in the store. I counted 5 people. No doubt there were more working out of sight, but when put next to the number of customers in the store, it was a surprisingly low number. Indeed, the supermarkets are embracing the change with automatic check outs, online ordering etc. 

Schools are not immune from the tides of change including the role of teachers, new technology, and the shifting social challenges that students face. 

At Blue Mountains Grammar we are constantly asking the question ‘What does a 21st Century Grammar School look like?’ We are trying to match a 105 year old history, the notion of a Grammar school with the needs of a new generation. In doing so we are shaping, rather than just responding, and looking at both the individual parts of the school, as well as the school as a whole. As we shake up the way we deliver our Year 7 program, seeing these young people as wellsprings of potential who can make thoughtful decisions and respond meaningfully when given the appropraite circumstances, we are taking on many messages of Who Moved My Cheese. 

These are:

• Change is inevitable, it is foolish to think otherwise. 
• The more we can anticipate the changes, the better off we will be to respond. 
• By monitoring circumstances, we will be less likely to be caught off-guard.
• Let go quickly when you need to. Sometimes this will be hard, but that is ok. 
• Change. This is a verb. We need to do something just talk about it.
• Enjoy the benefits that the change brings. 

Mr Chris Sanders

Director of Pedagogy and Innovation