Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know (Lao Tzu)

Ryan Holiday's book Ego is the Enemy has some brilliant passages that have provoked a lot of reflection for me and my practice as a teacher.

In the chapter Always Stay a Student, he makes the point that as we succeed in our chosen career, we continually find ourselves in new situations. 

When I started teaching in 1983, I had to learn how to teach. At the start, I knew nothing. Holiday quotes physicist John Wheeler, who said, "as our island of knowledge grows, so does the shore of our ignorance".

In other words, each advancement in teaching that improved my practice also brought with it new situations and challenges that I had never come across before. So, my ignorance grew. I knew less, even as I progressed with my teaching.

The thing is, this never stops! I am still coming across stuff in 2026 that I am completely ignorant about. Like the uses for AI.

The more I learn about it, the less I know and so on ad infinitum.

The temptation is to pretend I know, when really I don't. Again though, the thing is - this applies to everyone!

The list of things I don't know about at Iona College, and the world of teenage girls is vast. 

• I don't know about the music they like.
• I haven't read the books they are reading.
• As an Anglican, I don't know anything about   Presbyterianism.
• I have little idea about who does what at school outside of   my role in the English department.
• I don't know the nuances of teenage girl language.
• I don't know the nuances of teenage girls.

I could go on and on but you get the gist. I'm ignorant of a lot of things.

The risk is of thinking I am set and secure, when in reality understanding and mastery is a fluid, continued process (Holiday).

So, hence the chapter title - Always Stay a Student!

Regardless of whatever I do, I know what my purpose in life is: to make a difference in people's lives (Tim Tebow)

Although Tim is speaking from an athlete's perspective he is delivering a deep truth that applies to many people.

Ryan Holiday in Ego is the Enemy asks two fundamental questions (What is your purpose? What are you on Earth to do?) and I find myself using the word/concept a lot to justify my decision not to retire from teaching any time soon.

I know what my purpose in life is. I know what I am on Earth to do.

There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind (C.S. Lewis)

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

I have observed that those who have accomplished the greatest results are those who 'keep under the body'; are those who never grow excited or lose self-control, but are always calm, self-possessed, patient, and polite.

Booker T. Washington

Do you know the enemy? (Green Day)

Ryan Holiday's Ego is the Enemy forms part of my reading for the study break.

I love his work because he writes about things that make me reflect on my life as a teacher and as a leader, and life in general.

To be or to do? Which way will you go? That was a question posed by American military strategist and teacher, John Boyd.

Ryan indicates that it is a crucial question. At its heart is a question around purpose.

What is your purpose? What are you on Earth to do?

To be, or to do?

Thanks to that purpose question, the answer is obvious.

During my career (now in its 43rd year) my purpose has been reasonably consistent during those years - to do.

But, yes, there have been times when I may have chased promotion, salary and titles like Principal (Stratford High School) or District Principal (OneSchool Global).

When I applied for the Stratford job, I was desperate to return to NZ from England for family reasons. When I applied for the District Principal job, I was keen to challenge myself by helping my colleagues. 

In the end I stepped away from those kinds of high-status positions because I wanted to accomplish something else or prove something to myself.

For instance, it was an easy decision to return to classroom teaching in 2024, because that's my purpose. 

Easy because I knew what I had to do and what was important to me. To quote Joni Mitchell, "No regrets, coyote".

Late last year, that thinking (to do) meant moving to a different school as an English teacher because I wanted to improve my teaching. I still have a lot to learn about this job.

Recently at Iona College we had Browse Week. Teachers were asked to visit a couple of teachers informally during the week and observe the class and teacher for a few minutes. While there the idea was to note a couple of takeaways.

I visited three classes and instantly found things I could do to improve my own practice. That's exactly what I need.

Feel the breeze, take the weight off your feet (The Pineapple Thief)

Photo by Shlomi Platzman on Unsplash

A two-week study break at the end of the first term has kicked off with Easter weekend. Some Year 10 creative writing assignments need to be marked, and I want to plan out the next term's programmes more thoroughly than I did last term's.

The marking I want to get done asap so it doesn't hang around in my brain, but the planning can wait until the end of the break.

Aside from that - it's a case of outside chores when the autumn days allow and regular walks to get some fitness back. There are a pile of books to dip into and my turntable has been repaired so I'm energised to find some fresh vinyl to play.

Attitude is the 'little' thing that makes a big difference (Winston Churchill)

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Iona College had an open day recently. I was stationed in an English department classroom natch.

One of the DPs who was doing a walk around during the morning said to me something like - "this will be old hat for you, having been a Principal".

I laughed and agreed with him, because by that stage I'd warmed up. "Yes", I said, "I can do shmoozing".

It had taken me a while to warm up because I'm a little rusty at this sort of thing now.

By the time the afternoon shift had kicked in (and we'd got used to the flow of tour groups), I was getting into my hail-fellow-well-met stride.

Funnily enough one family remembered me from last year's open day at Hastings' Boys! I laughed and said, "Yes, I'm working the Open Day circuit."

I love it here! I love my school! It’s full of wonderful people! (Miss Honey)

Miss Jennifer Honey is an archetypal character from Roald Dahl's novel Matilda.

I've often wondered where the inspiration for this kind and nurturing character came from. Apparently, it's from Roald Dahl's own experiences and observations of his children. To have such a person as Miss Honey as your teacher is a true blessing.

How many Miss Honeys have I come across? Well, only one stands out in my memory from my own schooling. Mrs. Alexander at Royal Oak Primary was fantastic. Sadly though, I can't now picture her.

In terms of how many I've met during my own teaching career - there have been many more (but somehow, not enough).

Luckily for the girls at Iona College, there are a couple of Miss Honeys on the staff. I'm in awe at their genuine niceness, kindness, compassion and empathy. 

They certainly inspire me, and I'm sure they inspire the girls.