The glass ceiling – cracked or shattered? Only time will tell.
The glass ceiling has been cracked. Through one of the cracks has stepped the newly appointed Principal of Glenwood High School, Mrs Andri Barnes. This top-achieving school is fortunate, indeed, to have such a capable and experienced leader at the helm. She follows a long line of Headmasters. With wisdom the Governing Body chose to select the best person for the position and did not consider gender as a pre-requisite for selection. This should pave the way for other such leaders to step in to what has traditionally been an all-male domain – and the country should reap the benefits.
Mrs Barnes brings a wealth of leadership experience and an in-depth knowledge of the educational and developmental needs of young men. She is a well-respected academic, having recently submitted a PhD Thesis on a most appropriate topic, “Teenage boys’ constructions of masculinities”.
In her parental role, she chose Glenwood as the school where her son was educated as she was fully aware of all the benefits that this excellent school offers. Further experience, which stands her in good stead for the job at hand, has been the role she has played in the leadership and management of the boarding establishment over many years.
She has been on the academic staff at Glenwood High School since 1997. She headed the History Department and served as a Head of Department for many years. For a period of 10 years she held the position of Deputy Principal and recently has taken the ultimate responsibility when she was appointed Acting Principal.
Globally women have failed to break in to management and leadership, whether in the corporate world or in education, and in South Africa it is no different. As Simone Beauvoir wrote, women were perceived as ‘the other’ in a patriarchal society, second to men who are treated as ‘first’ in gender rankings.
This excellent appointment could not have happened at a better time. It serves as a positive response to the Me Too Movement, so topical in every sphere of business and life as a whole in the global world. Much is currently documented about the value that women bring to the Boardroom. The Grant Thornton International Business Report, ‘Women in Business 2018’ highlights the importance of women in leadership positions. It is an excellent read and all are encouraged to look at it closely if we want to take business and education to a higher level. A quotation from Jennifer Thorpe-Moscon, senior director of research, Catalyst, writes, ‘Any business that doesn’t take gender diversity seriously or just ticks the boxes is doing itself a disservice as it’s limiting itself to half the talent pool’.
Surely we all know this, but it is in the hands of men, who hold the power at present, to change their perceptions. Action has to be fair and just. Gender should not be a determining influence in selection. I believe no woman of integrity would want a promotion that she did not qualify for. Women do not want more than men have, but rather equal opportunity, equal salary and respect. There is no conclusive evidence to rank men above women, with regard to leadership ability. Leadership styles differ from person to person. Although gender might have some bearing on one’s leadership style so too does personality, and no man is a replica of another.
There are outstanding female Principals of girls’ schools, but a noticeable trend is to appoint men to head girls’ only schools. Perhaps it is so entrenched in women’s minds that they are not up to the task, and therefore do not put themselves forward, or alternatively the Boards are comprised mostly of men who unwittingly reinforce the stereotype. It is therefore essential that men and women, together, break down this stereotype. A further challenge in a co-educational school or a boys’ school is for the Principal to win the respect and support of those she leads. We are a very patriarchal society and so the mind-set of men has to change from superiority to equality. What better environment for this to happen than in a boys’ school. Young people are far more accepting of change so let us focus on developing a changed mind-set in our youth. Many young men hold their mothers as their role models, perhaps because they personify grace, compassion courage and empathy. Add these qualities to real leadership ability and families, businesses, schools and therefore the whole country will benefit. Having both men and women in the business of decision-making is surely a win-win situation.
To Glenwood High School, congratulations on your foresight and vision; to women as a whole, stand up and be counted, the glass ceiling can be shattered.
By Esme Skolnic – esme@dialogueafrica.co.za
Photo on top: Mr Sipho Gama (Vice-Chairman, Glenwood Governing Body), Mr TT Mthembu, Mrs Andri Barnes, Mr Barnard van Rooyen (Chairman, Glenwood Governing Body)