Who makes a difference in the world, and how do they do it?

Throughout history, most people, in most cultures have followed the norm, adopting a similar view to most others, and not questioning the established thinking of their day. I heard a renowned academic being interviewed last week by Philip Adams (ABC radio), who talked about such things, and related a story of how, in the distant past, everyone had a well accepted and uncomplicated explanation for why a rock would fall when dropped from a height; and steam would rise, when water boiled. They believed quite simply that things were returning to their "natural place". The explanation was uncomplicated, and satisfied everyone; and there was no reason to ask any further questions until scientists in the middle ages began doubting this explanation. Questioning of such things was largely frowned upon in that time; but it was that questioning that resulted in a great leap forward in human knowledge and development.



If you go back to ancient Greece and Rome, you will discover a number of renowned "thinkers", who committed suicide because of a lack of acceptance in their own time. Socrates was on the fringe of Greek society. He upset the establishment, was tried and ended his own life; and yet thousands of years later, we celebrate Socrates as one of the founders of Western civilisation.



The people who make a difference are always those who question the established ways; and seek new ways of thinking. Such people will always attract criticism from others who oppose change, and seek to support the institutions and attitudes of the present (or past). It is a sad fact, but these critics will always lack the foresight and imagination to see that things can improve; and will always harbour fear and resentment toward those on the fringe who are the real shakers and movers in the world.



It takes a degree of courage as much as anything else, to be a "fringe dweller"; but one must ask, in 100 years time, what type of person will have had the greatest influence on the world.



Every one of us has choices as to what type of person we want to be in the world of education: one who seeks to maintain the status quo; or one who seeks to push the boundaries, and resists being influenced or confined by established ways of thinking and doing.