Strike

I try to follow a simple life rule: 

“If I have not spent time working in the industry or walked a mile in others’ circumstances, it is time for asking questions, rather than sharing opinions”.

With a teacher’s strike beginning next week, bringing disruption to thousands of students and families, the motto above is more relevant than ever.

Whether for or against the strike action, a plethora of social media experts have emerged, confident in their opinions and criticisms. As usual very few have ever offered their service to education, nor even taken the time to become familiar with basic facts of the dispute…

they often just know.

I have never changed a bedpan in a hospital, had an angry patron ‘ream me out’ while serving at a restaurant, or had to make a life or death decision in an operating room. 

So on these topics I keep my mouth closed and ears open. 

Imagine the kindness and empathy that would permeate our society If more people applied a similar philosophy.

• Now that’s a peak ethos.