What if the biggest risk at school… is playing it safe?
Jun 30, 2025At Green School last week, I watched 8-year-olds stand up in front of guests and explain what they were doing — without a script, without permission, without fear.
They weren’t showing off.
They were showing up — as themselves.
Because that’s what the culture invites.
Safe enough to make mistakes.
Supported enough to ask bold questions.
Trusted enough to take the lead.
And here's the thing:
That kind of safety doesn't happen by accident.
It’s designed.
It’s modelled.
It’s lived.
❌ It’s not a warm-up exercise.
❌ Not a “culture day.”
❌ Not an extra.
It’s the core of the learning process.
Because if learners don’t feel safe to speak, risk, or lead…
…they’ll spend their whole school career playing small.
And then we wonder why they disengage.
So here's a question worth asking in your team:
🔍 Where are we playing it safe… at the cost of real safety?
