December 2020—my first year at Stichting School & Veiligheid—and almost time to say goodbye to a bizarre year and reflect on what lies ahead. ‘Will 2021 also be dominated by the coronavirus or the aftermath of the American elections?’ And, more personally for me, ‘How will my work on the project ‘Citizenship in Primary Schools’ develop now that the bill to strengthen the citizenship education mandate was recently discussed in the House of Representatives?’ I’ll leave that aside for now; it isn’t time yet.
An election that has by now become traditional and that I eagerly look forward to at this time of year is the one for the songs on the best-known music list of the year: the Top 2000. I greatly enjoy all the songs that pass by, but even more so the stories behind how the songs came into being.
Talking
But back to citizenship. Over the past few weeks, we have been busy conducting interviews for the magazine ‘Tangram’, which will be distributed to all primary schools in the Netherlands in January 2021. I can already reveal that it contains some inspiring conversations! What became clear to me once again—and even more strongly—after reading all these interviews is that having a conversation is so incredibly important! Have you ever thought about how many songs have actually been written about conversation, talking and listening (conversation, talk and listen)? Or that there are even bands called Talk Talk? I could easily list a whole series; talking is a rewarding subject.
A safe conversation in the classroom
If a good conversation is so incredibly important, it also requires careful preparation. This certainly applies to conducting a safe conversation in the classroom—especially when topics are raised that provoke controversy—because you do not always know how the conversation will unfold.
One way to guide a conversation could be with the help of a so-called ‘talking stick’. The talking stick (in English: Talking stick) was used by certain Native American tribes in North America during meetings of tribal elders. When the tribal elder held the staff, everyone else remained silent so as not to interrupt him. The staff—often decorated with eagle feathers and crystals—was then passed on, and the next person to speak was listened to.
Talking Stick
Talking Sticks are still used by Indigenous peoples in North America to resolve problems. Obstacles are removed through this conversational technique, and people are given the opportunity to express themselves carefully and precisely, with complete freedom. In his book ‘The 8th Habit’, Stephen Covey calls it “the most powerfull communication idea and technique I have ever found.” According to him, the Indian Talking Stick is a valuable tool in the society in which we live.
The point is that the person speaking should feel understood before the Talking Stick is passed on. In this way, the energy of the group is transformed from negative to positive, from defensive to creative. Alternative solutions emerge that may be better than what everyone initially proposed. Feeling understood by others is beneficial to group cohesion.