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CEO's e-Bulletin
#12 | 30 June 2022
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Sins of omission
In his most recent e-newsletter, US-based independent school management and governance consultant, John Littleford, challenges school governors with the question, ‘Is it time for a Head’s sabbatical?’
At a time when Heads are busy leading their school communities through the uncertainties and difficulties of managing the impact of both Covid and influenza, the thought of taking time out may seem counter-intuitive. Heads may be suffering fatigue, but so are their executive teams and staffs: couldn’t everyone make a compelling case for a spell away from the office or classroom? But as Littleford’s own story of taking a sabbatical illustrates, a sabbatical is much more than a rest cure. A sabbatical can be the deep dive leaders need to transform the future of their schools, not just a battery recharge to help manage the present.
Many members will remember an article by Philip Grutzner (Headmaster, Melbourne Grammar School) which appeared in our journal, Independence in 2011. Titled ‘The Seven Sins of Sabbatical’, Philip’s demolition of the seven obstacles that Heads commonly put in the way of sabbatical leave taking is just as insightful and amusing today as a decade ago. If you find yourself tempted by any of the following thoughts, beliefs or leadership practices, Philip’s article is a must-read:
1. I am indispensable
2. Who will lead the school in my absence?
3. My school cannot afford it
4. It is a lot of money and maybe I am not worth it
5. Too much focus on the present at the expense of the future
6. My family understands
7. I must justify every day of my sabbatical to the board.
The disruption to education provision by the Covid pandemic may seem like a good reason to delay taking a sabbatical, but new expectations of schools from students and parents, new demands by staff and new models of provision emerging as EdTech companies move quickly to take up the opportunities that virtual delivery offers mean that serious consideration must be given to responding to John Littleford’s question with a resounding ‘yes’.
Sabbaticals feed your leadership, your school and development of leadership pathways right across the sector. It was only when I acted as principal of St Michael’s Collegiate in Hobart when then Head Dan McNeill OAM went on sabbatical that I began to form firm aspirations for the Headship.
Whether your sabbatical dreams involve a Churchill Fellowship, a leadership course at Oxbridge or an Ivy League university in the United States, or a sabbatical shared progressively with members of your executive as you engage in tours of AHISA members’ schools across the nation in key focus areas for transformation in your school, it is important to nurture those dreams into fruition.
In fact, not to have a sabbatical dream could well count as a sin of omission in school leadership. So, just in case you need a prompt to starting dreaming, check out the section on ‘Sabbatical Opportunities’ in the Best of . . . resources under the Member Pluses tab on our website (member log in required).
Kind regards,
Beth Blackwood AM | CEO, AHISA
beth.blackwood@ahisa.edu.au | 0417 180 842
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