I’ve written recently about how transformative I’ve found Jonathan Haidt’s new book The Anxious Generation: How the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness. In the book, Haidt draws on seminal sociologist Emile Durkheim’s concept of anomie. This is a state of breakdown of social norms and values within a society. He argues that a ‘great rewiring’, came about with the introduction of smart phones and that as more and more of social and professional life has shifted online, it has had a deeply alienating effect on communities.
I have the utter privilege of working remotely much of the time. I participate in a wide range of networks, doing all sorts of brilliant things in the sphere of educational leadership. There are innumerable benefits to this. The reach of online working allows me to widen my impact and affords a flexibility and level of wellbeing that few in my sector have access to. However, there is a danger that online work, wide reaching though our networks can be, becomes transient and shallow.
I am acutely aware of my own need for grounding in my local community and in person. I am lucky enough to live in, what I believe is the most beautiful corner of the world, down here in South Devon. That is why I was so delighted to come together with local colleagues this week (albeit online right now) plan a place-based Women’s Leadership Community.
Whilst this is a very personal reflection. I don’t think it is a personal problem. The shift towards the online space has a great many practical benefits, particularly in facilitating networks within middle sized and large Multi Academy Trusts . However, I do believe that people and place matter hugely and as Trusts grow, they need to think very carefully about geographical footprint in order to ensure that meaningful in person communities as the norm.
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