At a school in London's East End, just before the start of the pandemic, I approached a group of children in a corridor for a handshake.
In most British secondary schools, that would be unusual. When teenagers throng corridors and other communal spaces, many teachers feel intimidated and back away.
That 'us and them' attitude, prevalent in so many schools, goes against everything I believe in. I make it my business to demonstrate courtesy and politeness to all pupils. And, crucially, I expect no less from them.
