From The Editor

Ed Wilson - English Teacher

On its surface, writing is not a dangerous activity. We write sitting down, usually safely ensconced inside and, if we're lucky, accompanied by a variety of snacks to fuel our creativity. Michel de Montaigne, the French Renaissance philosopher, wrote the essays for which he became famous in a tower connected to his castle. The circular walls of the tower's library were lined with his favourite books, and the beams of its ceiling inscribed with maxims in Latin and Greek. His study was decorated with his extensive art collection; many of the paintings had been commissioned by Montaigne himself.

Montaigne's writing rooms sound comfortable to the point of selfindulgence. And yet, despite the luxury of his surroundings, the project that he embarked on in the tower required tremendous courage: to ask himself again and again 'What do I know?', to answer that question honestly and to risk the discomfort that must have resulted from sharing those answers with others.

That same courage is present in every contribution to this magazine. Yet again, our students have proved themselves happy to engage with the world through painting, photography, fiction, poetry and essays, and have the courage to share their responses with other people, opening themselves up to new ideas and perspectives in the process. Readers should be aware that some students have addressed sensitive subject matter.

We are proud of every piece of work in this magazine, and of the courageous spirit of inquiry and openness that gave rise to them.