The Conversations Schools Avoid with Adrian McLean – There are some conversations in education that seem harder to have than ever. Conversations around race, identity, belonging and culture can quickly become uncomfortable. Many people worry about saying the wrong thing, asking the wrong question or causing offence. As a result, some of the most important discussions simply never happen.

That was one of the biggest themes when Adrian McLean joined The School Podcast.

 Watch the full interview on YouTube →

Adrian is an educational leader and advocate for character education who brings a unique perspective shaped by both his professional experience and his personal story. During the episode, he shared how his family history, upbringing and experiences have influenced the way he approaches leadership, education and relationships.

One of the most powerful parts of the conversation centred around curiosity.

Rather than immediately judging people for the language they use or the views they hold, Adrian argues that we should first seek to understand where those beliefs have come from. This is particularly important when working with young people.

Students are constantly influenced by their environment, their peers, social media and the conversations taking place around them. If schools want to help young people navigate complex issues, simply shutting down conversations is rarely enough.

Instead, schools need to create environments where questions can be explored, challenged and discussed.

Throughout the episode, Adrian shared examples of how curiosity can often achieve far more than confrontation. Whether discussing race, identity or cultural differences, genuine conversations create opportunities for learning and growth.

The discussion also explored the role schools play in helping young people understand perspectives that may differ from their own. In an increasingly connected world, students will encounter people from different backgrounds, cultures and experiences throughout their lives. Learning how to engage respectfully with those differences is an important part of education.

One quote from the episode captured this perfectly:

“The most troubling conversations are the ones that we don’t have.”

It is a reminder that avoiding difficult discussions rarely solves problems. More often, it allows misunderstanding, assumptions and division to grow.

For schools, parents and educators, the challenge is not to avoid difficult conversations. The challenge is to create the conditions where they can happen constructively.

This episode with Adrian McLean is a powerful reminder that education is about far more than academic outcomes. It is also about helping young people develop understanding, empathy and the confidence to engage with the world around them.

Sometimes the conversations we avoid are the very ones we need most.

The Conversations Schools Avoid with Adrian McLean