Principal’s Message
“Mr. Kolach, we would
like to interview you for our Grade Two social studies assignment.”
Two very efficient
young ladies and one hen pecked boy entered my office and challenged me with a
host of questions they had prepared.
What is your name? I answered
that one easily. The Name is on the
door. What is your position? I aced that one, but I did have to help them
with the spelling. The next questions
were more difficult.
What does a principal do? Well, I direct and monitor the academic and
non-academic activities of the school. I
plan and implement daily routines. I
provide guidance for teachers and students while meeting requests from parents,
school board members, and government officials.
They often come to me with praise and complaints. I interview prospective staff, supervise
teachers, discipline students, and ensure students are receiving the
educational requirements as stated in the provincial curriculum. I stay abreast of current laws, rules,
regulations, and policies and ensure compliance with all the above.
When I saw how much
effort was required to print the word principal, I opted for a simpler, easier
to spell, more profound answer. “I try
to keep everyone happy.” Yes, when
people are happy they are just like dairy cattle. They produce more.
Next question: “What do
you dislike about your job?” I could have mentioned paperwork, endless emails,
and fixing things that aren’t broken, but I stated, “I don’t like my job when
people hurt one another.”
As I reflected on my
responses to the children’s questions, I couldn’t help imagining they were
Freudian psychiatrists conducting a word association exercise and I was their
patient. As I reflected on this quaint
little interview, I realized they had shone a light on my soul. The simple answers I gave in language that
could be understood by a grade two student would reveal what I value most.
Keep people happy and
settle situations where people are hurting one another. Other principals may see their job differently,
but my job is ensuring happiness and respect.
A school should be a happy place where people respect one another’s
feelings.
In the month of
September, our students emphasized the most important school rule, The Golden
Rule. It applies to us all – students,
teachers, parents, and community members.
If we all live by the Golden Rule, school will be a happy, productive
place for everyone.
“Mr. Kolach, how did you
answer the question? You know – the one
about what you like about your job,” asked a colleague. Well, I guess the best part of my job is
making people happy.
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