As a child we always seemed to want to be older than we really were; however, when age catches up with us, we are not so convinced any longer, though age does have its advantages.
One sage once realised that “The good thing about reaching the age of 90 is that not many people die after that!”
A similar wise person, when asked what the best thing about being old was, thought for a moment and announced simply, “No peer pressure!”
It seems that when we reach such an age, our foibles are tolerated, that we can get away with anything! Maybe that is why pupils, when they reach their final year at school, believe that they can do what they want on account of their ‘seniority’.
Yet age only brings senility, not seniority. Seniority becomes many things to many people but ultimately it should be seen as wrong; it is even ‘siniority’.
Yes, there is importance and significance in elders; we need them and we are to respect them. However, it is interesting that in the Bible, God often successfully used the youngest member of the family (Joseph and David stand out strongly) and He delighted in using the smallest tribe.
Timothy clearly was a young man who was to lead those who were ‘senior’ to him; Titus was instructed to “teach the older men”, his ‘seniors’. Seniority is not a right, nor an excuse for power.
There is obviously also importance and significance in authority but that is very different from seniority. There is nothing wrong with authority.
- Education: Siniority
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Greater responsibility must be given to ensure it is used wisely and correctly. All who come under the jurisdiction of those in authority must respect and obey them.
However, seniority must not be confused with authority.
The main problem with ‘seniority’ is that it is usually based on, and therefore confused with, superiority. Those who are ‘senior’ think they are better purely because they are ‘senior’; they believe they are above others, and that therefore they can do what they want.
Orders are often given for no other reason than to show that they are ‘senior’, that they are the boss.
Tasks are often given for no other reason than that they were once given to them; it is not only “do to others before others do it to you”, but also, equally, “do to others because others did to you.”
A further problem with ‘seniority’ is that often it is self-apportioned (the ‘seniors’ give themselves new powers as they feel like it); it is self-aggrandisement (the ‘seniors’ like to boost their feelings of importance for their own egos).
Schools may claim ‘seniority’ did not do people any harm but the real question is if it did them any good. Being older is no justification for doing what we want.
Consider for a moment how ‘seniority’ tends to work in schools. ‘Seniors’ will look to do things that will bring them recognition (even hero status).
‘Seniors’ will strut around in their fancy blazers and scarves to emphasise their ‘seniority’. ‘Seniors’ will demand to go to the front of the queue at the tuck shop or to the back of the bus on sports trips.
‘Seniors’ will demand ‘juniors’ greet them differently. ‘Seniors’ will require ‘juniors’ to do heavy work without offering any help. ‘Seniors’ will use profane language but will not allow a word to be said against the school.
‘Seniors’ will pick on minor infringements (bed not made precisely; a foot placed on a piece of grass) but they will not deal with bullying (often inflicting the bullying on others themselves). ‘Seniors’ will act as if they are mature and responsible but at weekends will often engage in inappropriate activity. Pharisaic…!
it is not ‘seniority’ that matters but humility. We are told we should “consider others better than yourself” and to “look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others” and that “we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak”.
Do ‘seniors’ consider ‘juniors’ better than themselves? Do ‘seniors’ really look after the interests of ‘juniors’? Instead of harping on about ‘seniority’ we should be speaking out more about service but as long as we have seniority we will never develop service. Nor will we develop the leadership in society we desire and deserve.
Let us not have a senior moment here. There is no place for seniority. We must work hard together to remove any such stain. Thirty-year-olds are often bosses of sixty-year-olds while many ‘junior’ pupils are better examples than their ‘seniors’. We need to do the best thing – no pressure!
- Tim Middleton is the executive director of the Association of Trust Schools [ATS]. The views expressed in this article, however, are solely those of the author in his private capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of the ATS. Email: [email protected]
- website: www.atschisz
