3. A readiness to understand why people act and think as they do, and the in their idioms but on your terms. Human ability to communicate with them —
beings and human groups, in so much of their behaviour, are irrational. The understanding of others' irrationality (and of one's own) is a mark of breadth of mind. And fourthly, in case this all sounds too theoretical . . .
4. A readiness to take responsibility. In the old days of the Public Schools monitors imposed a stereotyped discipline on the day's routines because they were given powerful privileges. They got things done because they gave orders. This attitude on the part of leaders (it has been labelled Ruritanian) represented one way of handling people. Is it an appropriate preparation for management in modern conditions ? Well there is a time for orders, and orders may need enforcing. I'm not against them. But, as an educational aim, I prefer to see in our senior pupils responsibility exercised through representative groups discussing specific management matters in the School, so that our sixth-formers learn how consulation and representation work, not in theory, but in the nitty gritty of everyday School life. This is the philosophy behind our system of representation in groups in various departments of the School — Chapel Committee, Catering Committee, the group publicising "What's on ?". I hope my keynote has been obvious. In a fine year for the School, a significantly large number of girls and boys, by their achievements in and out of the classroom, have demonstrated purposeful breadth. Sir Peter Swinnerton-Dyer distributed the prizes. In his speech Sir Peter put forward the thesis that much of the School curriculum has no practical justification beyond its value as an acedmic discipline. Expanding on the theme, he gave support to this mind-training as invaluable and necessary to all branches of Higher Education.
THE COMMON ROOM AND STAFF This year has seen several changes in staff. Mr. Gardiner, the former Headmaster, has left to take up a new post in Hertfordshire. Mr. Hughes, the Second Master at Shrewsbury, has been appointed Headmaster and will be taking up his appointment in January, 1980. Mr. Cummin is the interim Headmaster. In addition several other members of staff have left: Mr. Harris to enjoy retirement, Mr. Roberts to take up a position as Head of Department at St. Nicholas R.C. School in Northwich, Mr. Butler to prepare for Ordination at Durham University, Mrs. Atkinson to follow her husband who has been appointed to the Chair of Philosophy at Exeter University, and Mr. Grisdale who hopes to enter the world of Advertising. The following new members of staff joined in September: Mr. G. MacDonald, B.A. (London), M.A. (York) to teach History, Mr. R. Harriman, B.A. (York) to teach Chemistry, Mr. A. G. Roberts, B.Sc. (Aberdeen) to teach Physics, Mr. P. Walls, B.A. (Bangor) A.I.B. to teach French, Mr. P. Taylor, M.A. (Liverpool) to teach Latin and Mrs. J. H. W. Drysdale, M.A. (St. Andrews) to teach French. 7
