I was at a Christian school recently evaluating it for initial school accreditation. During those visits, one requirement is that the team interviews a group of parents to gather their insights and opinions about the school. Of course, this time is always enlightening because one never knows what topic they will come up with or what comment will flow from the mouth of a parent stakeholder.
Often times, I end up as the only English speaker in the room so a lot is lost in translation—which may be a good thing. But for sure we all smile a great deal and nod our heads even more. When it is intense, an interpreter helps me. That’s when I almost get a whiplash from looking first to the parents and then to the interpreter. I have noticed that there is a correlation between emotion and speed of conversation. Since I am not adept at hiding my body language, it gets more and more interesting. And body language is seldom lost in translation.
On one occasion, I thought two men were going to get into a fistfight because one was happy about everything at the school and the other had reservations and concerns. Because I have chaired so many of these, I no longer get too excited about these little diversions. Actually, I was kind of hoping they might get into a minor scuffle, but in the heat of the moment each wife touched the husband gently on the leg, and they melted back into their uniforms—gentle giants who almost had five minutes of fame.
Anyway, I digress; now back to the Christian school. Ten or so parents of various backgrounds and cultures came to share their views, but there was one who never opened his mouth, yet perhaps spoke the loudest. He wore a bright orange shirt that read, “Everyone needs a crazy uncle who brings beer to the party.” Although it might be difficult to pose an argument to that, his wisdom added very little to the stakeholder feedback section of this Christian school’s report!