Let’s face it, in life, most of us are just trying to muddle our way through the best we can. And this means that for things to run smoothly - like in, for example, a further education college - compromise is key, no matter which job title is on your door plaque.
These compromises, says FE teacher Tom Starkey, are where things tend to get a bit sticky. All of us, at one point or another, have found ourselves angrily storming into an “us versus them” mindset.
It’s easy to forget that those who are above or below our pay grade are just people like us, who may themselves be struggling. Starkey admits that he can, like many others, be dismissive of the issues that colleagues who are not on the same level as him have to endure - which, of course doesn’t do anyone any favours amid efforts to establish a “community” within a college.
Obviously, you shouldn’t let people mug you off, but perhaps a greater amount of understanding from all sides is needed. No matter where you are in the hierarchy, human distress is universal.
If colleges are truly to become forces to be reckoned with, there needs to be cohesion within them, says Starkey. And a mutual respect for the people behind whatever title they hold (even at times of opposition) must be a facet of this.
