“These things that you call Finish'd are not. Even Begun how can they then, be Finished? The Man who does not know The Beginning, never can know the End of Art”
Like our work, it is never complete, there is always more that can be done. Genius is in the moment, that second in the classroom when something clicks, with you or with them. It is also in the graft, the perseverance as you push on, as you plan meticulously, as you mark a book and see the light.Our work is an art, and a science.
In a similar way to Blake, I believe we all have a form of genius, poetic genius, pedagogical genius, within us, which is released, powerfully, at moments. It is instinctive and natural, but it is also the product of hard work and effort.
We must aspire to this.
As a department we have a great combination of enthusiasm, experience, skill and knowledge. We're hard working and dedicated. We're ever-improving, as evidenced by this summer's results and the quality of teaching shown throughout the year. This must continue. People who we consider to be touched by genius - Da Vinci, Newton, Cruyff - had natural talents, but worked on them, thought about them, developed them.
We need to be the best we can be, and then some. I expect consistent brilliance from all of you, and we must expect it from out students too - every lesson, every time they walk onto the corridor. We're failing ourselves and them if we do not. We can try new things, or fall back on the tried and trusted. We can be creative individually, or collaboratively. We must be critical and must communicate well, with each other and the children. We must be relevant and real, focused on the pupils' needs at all times. If we feel we're not doing well enough, we don't beat ourselves up - we get up and improve, reflecting honestly.
We can be all of these things, and more - with effort and focus we can be even better this year than last.
