{"id":3075,"date":"2023-08-23T18:55:03","date_gmt":"2023-08-23T16:55:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.connect2us.eu\/verhalen\/the-director-is-a-clown\/"},"modified":"2024-09-12T09:22:59","modified_gmt":"2024-09-12T07:22:59","slug":"the-director-is-a-clown","status":"publish","type":"portfolio","link":"https:\/\/connect2us.eu\/en\/stories\/the-director-is-a-clown\/","title":{"rendered":"The director is a clown"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Nigerian Adeola <\/em>brings her little son Fela to a costume party at school.\nHow nice that the school is hosting a party!\nHer little son has been looking forward to it for a whole week.\nThey spent as much as two afternoons working on his pirate costume.\nHe has already received several compliments on it today! <\/p>\n\n

Peter Kuipers, the school principal, is also looking forward to the day.\nIt is an important day where he really participates and is approachable to the students.\n“Today I’m not the strict principal for a while,” he thinks a little relieved.\n“Therefore, a clown costume seems fitting for such a happy day!” <\/p>\n\n

When Adeola arrives at school, she is surprised to see that Mr. Kuipers is also dressed up.\nAs a clown no less!\nHow strange and unprofessional.\nA principal is not a clown.\nDeep down she finds it actually disrespectful. <\/p>\n\n

But she doesn’t want to spoil the fun and smiles kindly at him.\nFirst make sure Fela has a good time, the little talk with Mr. Kuipers will come later. <\/p>\n\n

Where is the connection?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

By dressing up as a clown, Peter tries to make the distance between him and the students a little smaller.\nSelf-mockery is often used in the Netherlands to avoid being too important.\nAfter all, we are all equal.\nThe principal is not a clown of course, he is dressed as a clown. <\/p>\n\n

In very many cultures, authority is accepted and also seen as desirable.\nThe director is the boss, knows the most and people can submit to that.\nA clown costume does not fit Adeola’s image of the principal.\nParents from Nigeria like to see their children go to a good school where there is respect for the principal.\nAdeola also sees Mr. Kuipers today as a representative of the school, not a clown.\nSelf-deprecating then is a lack of respect for the position and those who depend on Mr. Kuipers.\nAs in this case, the parents.\nThe principal is not a clown.\nThat regard is certainly reflected in education, where the teaching style is also often much more authoritarian.\nThe students accept what the master says.” <\/p>\n\n

But humor and self-deprecation is not natural.\nIt depends on how it is used.\nIn African cultures, on the contrary, people use humor and drama to address those in power.\nIt is an indirect, and therefore more accepted, form of criticism of the boss.\nThen at a school party, for example, a teacher would portray the principal in a clown suit. <\/p>\n\n

In this story, Peter also has the task of reassuring Adeola.\nHe does not have to adapt, but he also cannot ignore the feelings of Adeola and her family. <\/p>\n\n

It is important to read between the lines.\nTo read the air as people often say.\nAdeola will not express her surprise directly, she will be friendly and smile along.\nBut may not stay as long as she otherwise would.\nHe might take the family aside for a moment to discuss this. <\/p>\n\n

If there are more expats and migrants, an explanation of this typically Dutch state of affairs could be given in the advance notice.\nAnd that it has nothing to do with the quality of education. <\/p>\n\n

For Adeola, this is a great example of how Dutch society is not very fond of authority.\nShe can accept that the principal leads in a different way and that this does not compromise the quality of education.\nShe can focus on how teachers interact with students and what they learn.\nEven though Mr. Kuipers, Peter, is at a party dressed as a clown.\nAnd as always, she can express her surprise. <\/p>\n\n

So if we summarize: The Netherlands has an egalitarian society, the boss is accessible and should not think too much of him or herself. As a result, status is less important and not even desirable. On top of that, in the Netherlands we don’t like bragging anyway<\/a>. Just act normal and you’ll be crazy enough. And if you do act crazy, then out of self-mockery. Self-criticism and modesty are more appreciated than compliments. <\/p>\n\n

And so in Nigeria, people look at authority very differently.\nThe boss may and should be the boss.\nHe or she is allowed to show it.\nThere is status involved.\nThere is a clear separation between teachers and students.\nStudents are used to the idea that the teacher tells, the students listen, and every now and then they are allowed to politely ask some questions. <\/p>\n\n

In short<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

For Peter: <\/p>\n\n