‘Principal for a Day’ initiative

I thought long and hard about writing this, fearing i might be pinged for
big-noting. However, I will take that risk.

In the second half of the 1980’s, as the principal of a large primary school and after conversartion with our Student Representative Council, we launched a program called ‘Principal for a Day’. Upper Primary students were eligible to apply to be me for the day. Selection was by an SRC drawn raffle. The selected sfrudent took oveer my role and my office for the day. I went one further and took the place of the swelected student in her or his classroom for the day. For both of us, trhat was complete with change of dress, lunch arrangements and everythhing else that went with the role change.

We conducted this program every year for many years.

I was generally told that the idea was silly as was I for coming iuip with such a scheme. However, it was a learning experience and I won’t go into that right now.

My point is that there is now a formal organisation which has introduced the ‘Principal for a Day’ concept on an Australia-wide annual basis. However, I don’t trhink they have gone as far as turning the principal into a student for the day.

The work of our program got out through print and television media, also fthrough our school newsletter.

During my time as a principal ‘silly old Henry’ either promoted or introduced several other initiatives which, covertly lampooned at the time, have become part of system practice.

I am not a seeker of recognition but a person who aimed to contribute to many aspects of education during my school years. That is reward sufficient.