I would like to take you back a few years, to a serious time and space, where I was amongst the group who govern our local school (known as the school Board of Trustees).

The conversation on the table was to be with the Mum, Dad and Grandmother of a six year old student, in regards to concerns over this child’s behaviour. It was fairly grim.

The family was distressed and poised to advocate yet again, for their highly anxious child was struggling with school, all the while knowing deep down that the decision had really been made already, and that the meeting was just a matter of formality.

The Board members were stressed with the process of excluding a student, concerned with the reaction of the family.

As the small talk faded to silence while they waited for the last person to arrive...