From the Head of Barker

Living Hope – A Big, Dynamic Idea

When Barker College reviewed our Mission and Vision language a few years ago, we deliberately settled on the word “hope” in our vision statement. It is a big idea and caused lots of discussion amongst those in our community we consulted.

I recall the moment when I settled on recommending this word to the School Council. Of all places, I was in the car park of Parliament House Canberra, where I had been part of delegation to various MPs and their advisors to propose a new way of thinking about education policy whilst I was National Chair of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia. Needless to say, the delegation was not successful and education policy settings remain locked in the current political modishness. Perhaps that is a topic for discussion in a different place. Ironically, while sitting waiting for the next meeting in the Parliament building that was buzzing with postbudget fervour, I pondered the word “hope”. Can a school community inspire hope in students? How will be know if this hope is living and enduring? What did the apostle Peter mean when he wrote about “living hope” in Peter 1:3? Can hope fade or die, and what does “living hope” require of those who seek to pursue it? The answer lies in understanding “living” in terms of showing life. Living hope is active and dynamic, not passive and inert. Hope is alive. It is strong. It seeks to bring joy to others and is strengthened every day. Hope in a school setting is NOT based on optimism or on positive thinking about oneself. Recently, I invited Year 10 parents to participate in a wordle style exercise to share in a single word what qualities they wished to see in their children by the time they leave the Mint Gates for the final time. The most prevalent word, somewhat to my surprise, was “Confident”. An effective school must foster confidence among our learners. Greater confidence in self does not come from baseless optimism that one day all will be well. It comes from building up capacity, strengthening skills and helping us to form our character.

Phillip Heath AM Head of Barker College