Do you know when to speak up?

Do you know when to speak up?

Do you know when to speak up or when to keep your powder dry?

Will the message be delivered the right way? 

Will it be received as hostile?

Is passion or emotion driving my need to speak up?

Do I need to consider my audience?

There is no definitive answer. Every conversation is different because every moment is different. The same topic doesn't mean that it has the same context each time. Time is progressive, and the only constant is change.  With each moment, the context changes, which means the perspective of each person also changes. Financial, personal, environmental…you are different now to yesterday. Your response to a work condition on Wednesday morning of this week might be completely different to Tuesday. The lowering of interest rates may have had an impact on your financial context, hence your response to a decision.

It is imperative that you take stock of your own thoughts, emotions or biases when entering an important discussion. On Wednesday I was interviewed by Ben Fordham at 2GB. He wanted to talk about Youth Crime and rural education. This was an opportunity to voice my thoughts on what was working and what needed fixing. But was I right? Did I have the right answers? How do I decide how hard to push?

My greatest ever boss, Geoff Brisby, pulled me aside for one of his fatherly talks one day and said, “You don’t have reverse do you?” I just keep pushing, regardless of the depth of the mud I’m in, from 1st to 2nd to 3rd gear, never thinking of reversing and trying a new approach. Sometimes we need something other than forward gears. It is now the first thing I consider when working with the media.

My experience in crime and education gives me a platform to speak to the media. In the past 2 years since leaving the classroom I have commented on television, radio and print media about crime, education and their intersection. It is something I do not take lightly, and am fearful of speaking beyond my knowledge. Regardless of how passionate I am, I have to consider context, perspective, time and the audience.

I was interviewed by a free-to -air major TV news network  regarding Police numbers and their impact.  A film crew even came to me. My responses, however, were not what they anticipated. I did not unload on the Police or the government. I was factual. I had strong opinions on criminal elements in society, but was not in a position, nor was it true, to follow the narrative they wanted. When the story played that night, it was without my interview. I was glad they didn’t run with my response because it was not aligned with my message. I had views on related issues, but it wasn’t the right context.

So when I spoke with Ben Fordham about the plight of country kids in Moree, education and youth crime, I had to consider my audience. He wanted his city listeners to understand what it is like for teachers and police in those areas. As I am not bound by either employer I can speak candidly. So, here I was for the second time on a leading breakfast show with a platform to answer questions without towing a company line. I feel strongly for the communities who are struggling with youth crime; the police who serve those communities, the schools who are trying to engage and teach, the victims, businesses, parents and the offenders. So who do I target when given a platform, and who will it serve?

My role as an educator and communicator is to listen more than I speak. 

The issue in this conversation was reducing youth crime. My focus is on education. I have worked in both industries, but my specialised opinion was on educational engagement and  curriculum reform. I did not add fuel to the fire. I acknowledged the pain in these rural areas which I have experienced, explained my experiences, but focused on the future and evidence based solutions. My audience was broad, and would include fellow teachers and schools with whom I rely on as an educational business. There are real problems with our school system, but I cannot lay blame on individuals. I will not single out Prue Car for a system that has declined over decades, or Scott Morrison for his handling of Covid. When I communicate I need to be positive, restorative and outcome focused. That doesn’t mean dodging the difficult conversations, but playing the “ball, not the man”.

So come Wednesday morning I checked my notes. I triple checked my statistics, latest reports and evidence, then asked myself two questions:

What do I want to achieve from this conversation?

Will my emotions prevent this outcome?

The pre-recorded interview will air shortly and only time will tell.