On every school tour, there is a parent who asks, in one form or another, for a guarantee that their child will never be stuck. It is never phrased that way. It arrives as reasonable questions: will he get help the moment he needs it, what happens if she finds maths hard, how quickly do […]
David William Sheehan
David William Sheehan is a writer and communications professional from Ireland, currently based in Tamil Nadu, India. His writing explores culture, heritage, community, and education, with a particular interest in school culture, leadership, and the hidden systems that shape human development. His work combines personal observation with research-driven storytelling and frequently examines the connections between place, identity, and learning.
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Hidden Curriculum: What Schools Teach Before the First Lesson Begins
The guidance counselor’s door was broken. It had been broken for three weeks. To open it, you had to pull it toward you at an angle, press your knee against the lower left corner, and hold it for three full seconds before turning the handle. Every student who needed to see the counselor that week […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
A Calm Building Is Built, Not Performed
At 7:15 a.m. on my third week as a new principal, there were two teachers outside my office and a parent in the corridor, all waiting for me. One teacher needed a decision about a student who’d arrived distressed. The other needed cover for a colleague who had called in sick. The parent needed reassurance […]