I’ve been reading this wonderful book of essays, speeches and meditations by Toni Morrison. One passage that particularly struck me was this:

“This decline [in the quality of public discourse about war] affects the highest levels of contemporary warrior discourse and sounds like that of the comic book or action film. “I strike for freedom!” “We must save the world!” […] What is fascinating is that such language sank to its most plodding at precisely the time another language was evolving: the language of nonviolence, of peaceful resistance, of negotiation. The language of Gandhi, of Martin Luther King Jr., of Nelson Mandela, of Vaclav Havel. Compelling language, robust, rousing, subtle, elevating, intelligent, complex. As war’s consequences became more and more dire, wartalk has become less and less credible, more infantile in its panic.” p.24

Although these words were written some years ago, they seem even more relevant now. How can education draw all learners into compelling, robust and elevating language and thought in the age of AI and declining reading of complex texts? What would our contemporary leaders be like if they had all experienced such an education? What would our world be like?

Thinking about what I’ve read recently and my recent research project, I’m beginning to develop the idea of a syllabus for a leadership programme that would include …

• slow close reading of work like Toni Morrison’s
• critical attention to language and narrative
• deep listening
• awareness-based practices
• reflection on what it takes to truly welcome unknown others
• experiences of models for peaceful collaboration across boundaries
• … and much more, what would you add?

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