We live in strange times, particularly in the political sense. We are undergoing a period of upheaval and, for many people, upheaval and change instigate fear. That is a perfectly normal and human reaction to facing the unknown.
It is only when we look back that we can see events calmly and, with a level of introspection not readily accessed by our minds when confronted with something new, something scary. It is at times such as these where leaders need to be calming influences, continually dampening the sparks of hyperbole - hyperbole that is often hysterical and driven by an alternative agenda.
Don’t you just yearn for leadership that you can trust? When I look at the leaders of all the political parties today in Scotland and, indeed the UK, they seem always to be angry. They shout at each other across the chamber, hurl insults, name-call and then deny any wrongdoing. Don’t you yearn for leadership that smiles, that gathers people together rather than tearing them apart? Should leadership not be about kindness, respect and acknowledging that opponents’ views may be viable?
Educators spend so much time discussing with students the importance of hard work, of the importance of developing a highly ethical, non-elitist view of the world in which we live, and yet those who should be the role models for the future generations seem to be anything but. Of course, I accept that all generalisations are wrong, but I really yearn for a politician to appear to be more human, more honest. For someone in power to one day say, “You know, you might be right - perhaps I need to rethink this.” I might be compelled to vote for someone that spoke in that way. It seems to me to have been a very long time since any leader has spoken in that manner…
And yet, our society, and particularly our media, often drive our leadership to act in this way. As individuals and as a society, we often see failure or making mistakes as a calamity to be avoided at all costs. We live in a world that automatically points the finger of blame. We live in a world that is, perhaps, somewhat less forgiving than used to be the case. What the debate around Brexit has shown us is that we are a country divided. Our students now need to ponder the words of Barack Obama: “What is important is that we make sure to work together, that we understand our strength comes from unity and not division.”
Perhaps I’m just a dreamer, but I hope that one day someone will lead us in a manner befitting that role. And that in so doing, our young will have someone to whom they can truly look up to and aspire to be like - because it is my firm belief that integrity and decency beget integrity and decency.
Rod Grant is headmaster at Clifton Hall School in Edinburgh. A version of this piece originally appeared as a blog post on the school’s website
