Well, you might argue that for all of our supposed intelligence, microbes can outsmart us all. They were here well before us and I’m sure you will forgive me for suggesting: they could be tidying up the planet long after we are gone.
So a big dose of humility for the human race? Perhaps.
However, we are smart, aren’t we? In so many ways. As I am unable to give my prize day speech to the school tomorrow, I am presently penning a foreword for the school magazine. And my inspiration has not come from a virus but from a Rokeby boy who was chatting to me yesterday.
Here’s a snippet.:
‘Why do you think I am a good headmaster?’
‘Well, you speak well and are seemingly quite smart.’
So there we have it. We all know that if you seek flattery you deserve not to get it! However, the effect of feint praise was to get me thinking…
We have spoken to the boys all year, on and off-site, about being resilient, reflective, and flexible of mind. We speak a great deal, in fact, about these things. Yet to read their reports you can see two things:
They are becoming all of these things and that is marvelous. They all have different personalities and skills and that is appreciated and celebrated.
In reports and in real life, we teachers encourage boys to speak up more, to settle down more, to participate, to restrain themselves, to focus, to relax a little… And it’s all to the good.
But ultimately the message is clear: each and every boy is on his own pathway at Rokeby and they are heading in the right direction – microbes or no microbes – to become Smart, Skilful, and Kind young men of the future.
All power to them!
J. Peck | Headmaster