There ain’t nothing like a good teacher…

At about 2.30pm, the general hubbub in Central Hall in Westminster comes to a standstill and a hush descends.

The hubbub murmurs that the Speaker of the House of Commons is about to embark on a ceremonial process from his official residence within the Palace to the House at the start of Commons’ business. 

Soon, the Serjeant at Arms steps into the Hall, large golden mace in both hands, accompanied by the Commons’ Doorkeeper, the Speaker, the Trainbearer, Chaplain and Secretary.  The procession walks on slowly, formally, with a brief informal wave by the Speaker to a group of school children who are standing watching on the wide.

The police inspector on duty shouts, “Hats off, Strangers” and we all dutifully oblige; that is, those who are still wearing hats these days of whom there are not many, apart from the policemen present of course.

The etiquette of hat wearing and doffing causes some amusement in the hubbub, but we are brought to remember that whilst this is an old tradition there’s nothing old about a group of children looking at statesmen going about their daily business.  

Their teacher tells them, also in hushed tones that the speaker is about to oversee the decisions for the most people in the country.  He asks the children who they think they are and they respond with “The King?  The Queen?  The Prime Minister?”  And he shakes his head and says, “No, the most important people in this country are you”, and he points to the class in front of him. “They’re making decisions for you for when you grow up, and one day you will be making similar decisions for other people in the country.”

I sent up a small prayer of gratitude for this teacher into Central Hall, not only delighted that he’d steered the class towards what was important in our democracy  but reminded that for all the Wikipedia, websites and AI in the world, there’s nothing like a good teacher to point out the important things in life and set you on your way. We could all do with a good teacher throughout our lives not just in times of tests and league tables.