Written by Paul Dix.
Top Gun rules of engagement are written for your safety and for that of your team. They are not flexible, nor am I. Either obey them or you are history. Is that clear?.
Open subversion of the school policy is the currency of the Maverick teacher. There are different rules that apply. From casual but constant ‘oversights' of phones out in lessons to open revolt ‘I don't care what the policy says, you are spending the rest of your natural life in MY detention!". The Maverick buys status on the cheap and everyone else pays the price.
There are cuddly mavericks who want to go the extra mile for everyone and nasty mavericks who bully children. There are inspirational mavericks that you would follow anywhere and misguided mavericks who will lead you off a cliff. A classic maverick however is an excellent teacher. Inspirational, dedicated, relentless, Proper good. They have the best defence for their behaviour as they often the best results in the school. It follows, in their logic, that they must be doing it right. Their positive effect on students' learning is rarely in question. But their negative effect on the staff is a hefty counterbalance.
Great schools rely on deep consistency in the behaviour of adults, New teachers buy into consistency in policy and practice. immediately. They hang to a behaviour policy like a life raft. In the eye of the first term storm it is their only chance of survival. For a while they believe everyone is applying the agreement consistently and so follow it to the letter. Gradually they realise there are some teachers who are deliberately sabotaging it. From the passive ‘I don't care if you keep your coats on', to the accelerated hostility of ‘Get out.....NOW' or the downright renegade ‘'Page 24 everyone, I just need to take this call!': the Mavericks can destroy essential consistencies in a heart beat that many have fought so hard for. Their disregard for policy sends ripples of doubt into new teachers, cover supervisors and anyone who thought that the adults stood together.
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Mavericks rely on personality, charisma and charm. They sometimes ride solo but more often than not have a small band of disciples who consider them defacto leader. Left unchecked their persistent muttering into their coffee at the back of the staff room is a short step from sniggers in staff briefing and open revolt in ‘reply all ‘ emails. If you find yourself in a staff room full of mavericks the effect on whole school consistency can be profoundly destructive. At their best maverick teachers are utterly inspirational and drive innovation, at their worst they undermine the consistency that cements the staff together and buy credibility with learners through shameful subversion. ‘It's ok, I don't mind you doing that here, just don't tell (insert name of SLT)...'
Children know how to use a maverick to gain advantage. A defence of ‘well SHE lets us do it in HER classroom' works better than it ought to in a school. The instinct of the child who wants to disrupt is to play ‘divide and rule' with adults. Many have developed real expertise at home and bring this skill set to school. They latch onto the inconsistencies in their teachers and exploit them ruthlessly. At times just for their own entertainment. I have often had students banged to rights only to hear the ‘But he gave all 7 of us toilet passes at the same time, he always does" or ‘no, you don't get it Sir, she doesn't use same rules as everyone else" reposte.
Working alongside a maverick effectively means gaining some emotional leverage. The Maverick is driven by a strong core purpose and well thought through philosophy. Like the most intelligent children they are difficult to manage; at times quietly subversive, often confident to question decisions head on. You don't have to agree with how they do things but you must understand what drives them. At the core of the Maverick is an ego, an arrogance and a selfishness that can is paradoxically both utterly compelling and utterly destructive. The maverick can easily get out of control. The history of education is littered with the skeletons of educators who have gone to far and got burned. Mavericks are difficult to manage using systems and processes. They need more subtle and personalised management. One that blends emotional connection and solid principled argument. Don't micro manage the flair from your Maverick but share with them genuine responsibility: give their innovative streak some structure. With one hand your Maverick needs some tough love to ensure they sustain a commitment to core consistencies; on the other they need the autonomy that makes them brilliant with the children.