Coffee Time

It was wonderful to see so many join us outside this morning for coffee (or tea) at out first parent coffee morning of the year.  In what has become a bit of a tradition, we gave away this year’s BISC coffee mug, with a little additional gift inside.  If you were unable to join us, but would like a mug, please pop by the front office and we will have one waiting for you, minus the coffee!

Coffee plays such an important role in many cultures, from the merely functional start to the day, to the ritualistic enabler of social gatherings.  Coffee shop, café culture, can be found throughout the ages where people gather to share a drink and talk.  And today is no different. 

Whilst I noticed the lines for the drive through seem to be getting longer, I do still see people gathered around tables inside, engaged in deep conversation.  This is a good thing.  But I can’t help thinking how easy it is to find ourselves simply sat in what amounts to an echo chamber.  We tend to spend our time with people that share our outlook, hold similar opinions, support our own world view.  This is all very normal and plays a vital role in our sense of belonging.  And there is nothing wrong in that.  Yet, it is also important to spend a little time in the company of others that see things differently.  Debate with others who hold a different view and listen to people that might just expand our horizons. 

Whilst coffee is not on the menu in schools (at least not for students), the coffee shop culture is.  Schools should be a place where young people get to explore ideas from multiple angles, discuss the possibilities of what if; find out how their world view fits in with others and to learn new understandings about how the world works.  The exchange of ideas and the discovery of new perspectives, over a humble cup of coffee, either real or metaphorical, serves as a vehicle of social bonding, exploration of ideologies and a pathway to change. 

Anyone fancy a coffee!