3 minute read
From the Headmaster’s Desk
John Lennon reminded us nearly 40 years ago that “life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” This has certainly been an extraordinary year already, and unlike any we have experienced. It has certainly not played out like we planned. Most of the time we live out our lives barely giving a second thought to the routines, rituals and social patterns which make it possible. The coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated to us all around the world just how fragile those routines – and indeed, our lives – are. At the time of writing, world cases of COVID-19 are over 10 million with more than 500,000 deaths, 128,000 of those in the United States. This has been a time of great inconvenience for most, and inconsolable tragedy for too many.
We have all had to adapt to rapidly changing and unpredictable events. Much of what we had planned for the year has had to be abandoned, and we have had to learn new ways of doing things so that we can keep ourselves and loved ones safe. Teachers across the world have had to rethink their whole way of teaching, and adapt their lessons to suit an online environment. Students have had to be far more self-motivated and disciplined, as they have been forced to adapt to different ways of learning. Parents have juggled their own working
from home routines with their children’s needs – and their children’s company – all day. We have all spent more time with our immediate family members, while being unable to visit extended family and friends. We have had to establish new routines and new ways of working.
It has been difficult to plan, because the situation has been changing too rapidly to make plans, and we have had to be reactive and resilient. Everyone is feeling anxious, and there is much to be anxious about. In the age of social media, rumours have proliferated, and unsolicited advice is freely offered. Too often, rumours have become firm beliefs and even the recommendations of someone as impressive and experienced as Dr Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the United States, are called into question by people with no medical background at all.
In this age of relativism, we need to remember that not all opinions are equally valid, and that it is possible to be wrong, and being wrong can have consequences. The best chance we have to actually be right is to adopt a scientific mindset, which demands sound evidence for any conclusion. Simply being told something or reading something on social media does not make it true. The value of a rigorous education and the critical thinking it nurtures has never been more evident. In the midst of all of this, we have seen great kindness and creativity and humour, not least among the members of our own community. In the face of fear, so many have reached out to those who are worse off than them. We have witnessed the healing power of a kind word. Social media has also seen the blossoming of much clever humour, much of it self-deprecating and generous in spirit. We have all learned new skills and discovered strengths within ourselves. We have also had to slow down and take stock. I have been so impressed by the resilience and tenacity of our students, teachers and parents who for the most part have simply got on with things in the best way that they can. And if one of us stumbled, others were quick to reach out and offer support.
It has been wonderful to welcome back our students to school and to witness their joy in reconnecting and their delight in simply being together again, and being able to interact in person with their teachers. In times of challenge we learn what is important to us. As we step cautiously back into the world, and gradually increase the breadth and pace of our activities, I hope that we also remember the lessons of this time and continue to value the best of what we discovered.
Dr Paul Hicks
Headmaster
