Routine and Habit

This week's message from our Headmaster Mr John Watson reflects on 'routine and habit'. He writes:

'All of us have our daily and weekly routines and we work in organisations whose smooth operation relies on a set routine or pattern. Nowhere is this more apparent than in a school, where days are governed by bells, homework tasks set on specific evenings, and pupils expected to establish good habits from an early stage. Assemblies were switched around for a specific reason on Tuesday, causing confusion for some and embarrassment for the three Fourth Years who suddenly realised that they were sitting amongst Shells and Second Years! 

Routine and habit can be very positive if they have a purpose- and they clearly do in the examples cited above. But routine can also become tedious, predictable and too comfortable. It can stifle imagination and a spirit of adventure, and can be the enemy of creativity. We can become set in our ways and fearful of change. 

“If you follow a recipe for life, spontaneity will be cooked.” (Khang Kijarro Nguyen) 

“Routine is the one thing that can get you killed. It tells the enemy where you're going and when you're going to be there.” (Anthony Horowitz, Point Blank) 

Routine won’t prove fatal in the majority of cases, but, as teachers, we should always be prepared to experiment with fresh methods to spark our pupils’ curiosity, never allowing them to become complacent. It’s also important that we expose our children to new experiences; Expeditions Day and the last few days of the Summer Term, when we collapse normal timetable, are organised with this express purpose. They complement what we do in the classroom, provide fun and novel learning with friends, and ensure happy memories of when we broke with routine.'

This message will ring true with our pupils who are about to undertake public and internal examinations but also have exciting educational visits planned for later this term.