Earlier this year, before coronavirus had fully taken hold in the UK and prior to lockdown, the Association was invited to an event at Manchester Metropolitan University to mark the end of a local project that was ‘hijacked’ as an opportunity for colleagues to thank Janet Batsleer for her influential career as she approached retirement from the University. I couldn’t turn this invitation down, as Janet has been such an inspiration to so many of us throughout her working career - and I am very sure she will continue to be an inspiration to our community of practice in the next phase of her journey. The script that follows were my words of thanks, accompanied by a small gift, on behalf of the Association:
Firstly, Janet, can I apologise! I am sorry we have hijacked this event, but we were not so sure how else we would get you and all these people together to say thank you for your role in our community of practice throughout your career. So I am glad our colleagues have ‘surprised’ you today I am sure you will all agree we all have much to thank Janet for…her teaching, writing, research, leadership and friendship.
And, as an Association, we wanted to mark this occasion in some way with a gift. But what do you gift someone who has given so much to our profession, to our sector and to our community? Well, I have a small package here and, unusually, I’d like to ask you to open it while I continue to speak.
As you can see, it is a traditional brass compass. I can’t claim originality for this small gift, as I wouldn’t want anyone laying claims of plagiarism at me!. The idea of presenting this to you today was stolen from a little known film called ‘Mr Hollands Opus’. I think its a wonderful film, and it features Richard Dreyfuss as a would be composer who drifts in to a ‘fall-back’ career as a teacher; something he struggles to comes to terms with as a symbol of his own failure to achieve his real ambition as a musician.
I won’t spoil the whole film for those that have not seen it and would strongly advise you watch it if you get a chance; it has lots of twists and turns and pulls heavily on the heart strings! But there is one scene I would like to tell you about that has lived long in my memory and is something of the inspiration for this small token of appreciation for Janet, today:
There is a scene where the Principal, acted brilliantly by Olympia Dukakis, scolds Richard Dreyfuss for his apathy towards being an educator. She provokes him to consider what contribution he is really making to the young people in his care.
She says, and I quote:
“A teacher is two jobs, Mr Holland
Fill young minds with knowledge, yes
But more important, give those minds a compass
So that knowledge doesn’t go to waste”
So, Janet, we gift you this token of a compass. Janet has been the embodiment of this mantra. She has acted as a compass for us – continually reminding us of where true north lies and, occasionally, scolding us when we loose sight of that path; but pressing us to keep moving forwards in the interest of the common good (and while that is a metaphor - we hope, as a lover of good walks, this compass may also be of some practical use to you, Janet, in that respect; as old fashioned as it is).
And with regards paths, if you look carefully you will find there is an inscription of a poem in this compass. I know Janet is also an enthusiast of poetry and this poem is also a reminder of what Janet has embodied for us. The poem is ‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost. An often debated poem regards its true meaning - is it a poem of regret or of hope? Allow me to read it and you can decide:
The Road Not Taken - Robert Frost (1874-1963)
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Janet has trodden paths, often less travelled, both with us and for us. And for that we are grateful and we wish to assure you – it has made all the difference! Thank you, Janet.
On behalf of the Professional Association of Lecturers in Youth and Community Work.