16
18
“The Worst Poverty is Lack of Freedom.” The Legacy of the Cuban Revolution
Embracing the Freedom to Fail: Reshaping Perspectives on Success and Mental Health
20 Freedom from Want: The Beveridge Vision
Freedom of (Hate) Speech?
50 FREEDOM 2024: A Reflection from the
In a world filled with uncertainties and challenges, the idea of freedom takes on a profound significance. It’s the freedom to express ourselves authentically, to pursue our passions with zeal, and to chart our own course in life. Within the pages of this magazine, you will find articles that reflect the myriad of ways in which freedom manifests itself in our lives.
When our team deliberated on this year’s theme, several ideas surfaced. Among them, the concept of Freedom stood out for its limitless potential and vast array of possibilities. We agreed that this theme encapsulates the essence of the Piper’s community, where the opportunities to learn, explore, and shape our futures are truly unparalleled. We were determined to showcase, in Aquila, just how remarkable our freedom is, and to express gratitude for the privilege of being part of an environment that fosters such limitless growth and development.
To a Piper’s student, Freedom embodies the exhilarating sensation of self-expression. It’s the ability to explore diverse interests, make choices, and shape individual paths within the environment of education. Freedom at Pipers means not just the absence of constraints but the presence of opportunities to learn, create, and grow. It means the privilege to voice opinions, pursue passions, and engage in activities that relate with each student’s personal aspirations. Additionally, it means the freedom to make mistakes and learn from them, fostering resilience and independence. Essentially, for a Piper’s student, freedom is the canvas upon which they paint their dreams, shaping their journey towards self-discovery and fulfilment.
As a student at Pipers, I am continually astonished by the wealth of opportunities available to us. From engaging in spirited sporting events and stimulating debates, to showcasing talents through Pipers Radio and the Performing Arts. Pipers offers a diverse range of avenues for exploration and growth. Furthermore, initiatives like Young Enterprise empower us to develop entrepreneurial skills, while the annual creation of our own magazine provides a platform for students to connect with the wider school community, offering unique insights from their own perspective. This plethora of opportunities not only enriches our educational experience but also fosters a vibrant and dynamic school environment where every student can thrive and contribute meaningfully.
Freedom can often be found in the small moments of our daily lives, woven into the fabric of our experiences at school. It’s the ability to choose our own path during break time; whether that’s spending it chatting with friends, exploring a new hobby, or simply enjoying a moment of peace. It’s the opportunity to express ourselves through our choice of the books we read, reflecting our individuality.
It’s the feeling of liberation that comes from being able to voice our opinions in class discussions, knowing that our perspectives are valued. These small acts of freedom may seem insignificant on their own, but collectively they form the foundation of a school community where autonomy, diversity, and personal growth flourish.
I encourage you to dive into the pages of this magazine with an open mind. May the articles within inspire reflection, spark conversation, and foster a deeper appreciation for the Freedoms we cherish. Throughout this magazine, let us continue to explore the ever-evolving concept and its significance in shaping our identities, our aspirations, and our collective future.
Here’s to a school where every voice is heard, every mind is respected, and every heart is free to Rise on Wings like Eagles.
Editor-in-Chief
P.S. Look out for the butterflies, fluttering amidst the pages of our magazine!
1 word. 7 letters.
All freedom comes at a great cost and, once achieved, brings with it a responsibility both for the future and the past. You must use your freedom and retain it for those who will want it in the future, and you must commemorate those in the past who have so bravely fought to achieve it. Two powerful women who have inspired me in their fight for freedom are Emmeline Pankhurst, and more recently, Malala Yousafzai. They have taught me that freedom is an opportunity. An opportunity for change. An opportunity for hope. An opportunity for a voice.
When I joined Pipers in Year 10, I took the opportunity to express myself (if I’m honest,) for probably the first time in my school life. It gave me a taste of what freedom of thought felt like. Just like those female activists taught me, freedom isn’t always given, but is made. They laid out a path for us to appreciate the opportunities that freedom offers. So, because there have been people laying the path to our freedom, what are we going to do to preserve thiswhat are we going to do to make a difference?
I would like to believe that we should try to reach our full potential, much like those that fought for what they believed in, not just as an ‘excellent student’ but as an ‘excellent individual’. We can’t all make huge changes that those before us have made, but every piece of the puzzle helps to make the whole.
As part of our Prefect initiative this year, we wanted to encourage those to reach their full potential by breaking down the barriers that may stop us from feeling capable of being ‘Unstoppable’. We found that, from kindness stems the ability to feel free, and the ability to achieve what we hope for. From this, the ‘Bee Kind’ project was born. When we recognise the kind actions that surround us everyday, a sense of freedom arises. Through kind actions towards others, we can all thrive and grow together, as one.
As one of my final acts as Head Girl, I want to encourage us all to appreciate the freedom around us today. We are women who are now able to vote, and have a right to education. We are citizens who can express our opinions through protest. Through Pankhurst’s and Yousafzai’s choice to advocate for change, we now, amongst others around the world, have the opportunity for freedom and power - something that can never be taken for granted.
ByIslaPearson
As the sun peeped over the horizon, the jungle began to awake. The birds began their blissful chirping, the frogs began their harmony croaking and by the time the sun had fully risen, the jungle was a concert of humming, thrumming, buzzing and clicking. The morning breeze drove a wave through the trees sending serenity and radiance into my soul. I clamber up to the next branch, still in a peaceful slumber and study the view that reclines beneath me. A vast canopy of shamrock green sways rhythmically to the melody of the jungle and the sun casts a warm glow into the azureus sky. The view is an ever-changing canvas of blues and greens. I leap to the branch below, and join the others to bask in the mellow sun. The mist from the waterfall cools me down as I perch on a small rock beside the rippling flow of clear water. I gently close my eyes and let the sun beat down on me. It’s so peaceful I begin to drift back to sleep. I awake to the sound of children banging their ugly faces against the sticky glass. My heart drops when I realise it was only a dream. I swing over to sit on a small piece of wood with a segment of orange placed on top which is supposed to remind us of the succulent fruit we ate before we were caught captive. This rotting segment of orange is nothing like the food we ate in the jungle. When I got taken captive four years ago, I was put in this small enclosure and separated from the rest of my family. At the time, little did I know that I’d be spending the rest of my dismal years sitting here watching people press their nosy faces in on me and making stupid rooping noises. I have gotten used to the stench of animal waste and rotten fruit, but I still dream of the days where the smell of foliage and hibiscus was ordinary. I try to block out the obnoxious audience, but every now and then I can’t help but glare at them, in the hope that it scares them off. Not once has it worked. My enclosure is fairly ordinary. It is a tight, stuffy room occupied by a bunch of ropes and a dying tree. If we get lucky, sometimes we get a new rubber tyre! The food here is dreadful too, once a day, we chucked some dry, gritty pellets onto the concrete floor by one lucky kid who gets to feed us. It might be the highlight of their day, but it's certainly not mine. Sometimes I'd rather go hungry than eat that tasteless junk. I scramble onto a decaying branch to stretch my legs. After four years in this small enclosure, I have almost forgotten how to climb. I glance out of the window and notice it has started to rain. The droplets of rain conjure a pattern on the glass, I look up and the intense grey sky fills my soul with sorrow. This couldn’t be any different to the weather back home. As much as I hate when it rains, It means that my audience is now cleared and I don’t have to perform these silly tricks. I close my eyes In the hope that I drift off into another daze into paradise but I am disturbed by the screeching of the heavy metal door being opened. It must be feeding time. I wonder which lucky child has had the exciting opportunity to torment me with pellets. As the door opens a little wider, I spot an opportunity to escape. It would be risky but I could do it. Freedom flashes in front of my eyes. The thought of finally being free from this hell is making my heart race. This is my moment. I could be seconds away from being free, my feet lift from the ground, my heart skips a beat and I make the biggest leap of my life. The gate is closing, will I make it in time? Or will my fate stay in this enclosure?
“I HAVE MY COUNTRY AND MY PRINCIPLES”:
By Mrs Fisher
Life is given only once, and one wants to live it boldly, with full consciousness and beauty. (Anton Chekhov)
Article 18 of The Human Rights Act 1998 states that ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion’. It is something we take for granted in the UK, and yet it may also be under attack.
Alexei Navalny’s death on 16 February 2024 in a Russian prison was both shocking and entirely predictable. It was the inevitable ending for the controversial opposition leader and long-time nemesis of Vladimir Putin. And yet, when I first saw the inspiring young political activist delivering many (often darkly humorous) speeches in the bitter cold of Moscow via social media, or later as the subject of an Oscar winning documentary on TV, I could never have thought he would actually have to die for his beliefs.
His death has led to a worldwide outpouring of grief and condemnation of Putin’s actions. Navalny, a trained lawyer, was responsible for exposing high-level corruption in Russia and became the opposition candidate in an election where none was required – nor could ever win. As a result, Navalny was given increasingly harsh jail sentences and was even subject to assassination attempts; the last very nearly killed him when he was poisoned mid-flight to Moscow and had to be evacuated to Germany, where it was confirmed he had been poisoned by the deadly substance Novichok. Despite this, Navalny made the decision to leave his wife and family and return to his home in Moscow, rather than live his life in exile. He was not just a man of principle; he was a man who accepted that his fate was to change the course of history. He said in one interview ‘I don’t want to give up either my country or my beliefs. I cannot betray either the first or the second.’
Navalny, although an inspiring figure in many ways, was not the most eloquent speaker. He didn’t utilise lofty literary quotes or rely on artful rhetoric. He began his political life as a blogger, making intricately researched investigations into the corruption at the top of Putin’s Russian state (or ‘these bad dudes’ as he referred to them). His use of popular song lyrics and informality gave him an ‘everyman’ quality that soon made his rallies stand out. His dark humour was, perhaps, what kept him going during the many trials and punishments he endured. When he was imprisoned in a remote penal colony, somewhere near the Arctic Circle, during the last weeks of his life, he said surviving the -32°C weather was possible ‘only if you manage to grow a new nose, new ears, and new fingers’.
Alexei Navalny was undoubtedly a complex character; criticised by some for his belief in Nationalism and having a lack of political clarity or ideology. But he was fiercely courageous in his pursuit of the truth and his belief in freedom for all citizens. His commitment to stand up to those in power, to fight for those without agency, meant he would give up even his own life. Navalny’s final message, delivered with the hint of a smile, was the biggest dare of all‘You’re not allowed to give up’. His belief that ‘A person truly becomes free only when they are able to think and express their thoughts’ is his lasting reminder of all our human rights.
By Millie Powers, Year 10
Freedom: the zenith of life.
To say how you feel without fear or strife.
To walk where you want without any chain. And to have a free voice without threat of pain.
Do you think about freedom day-by-day, Or simply go along your way?
Do you ever bother to sympathise Or turn away, avert your eyes?
My father, so diligent and erudite
Valued freedom, began the fight.
He could see the full panorama, The clandestine meetings, the political drama.
To win his freedom, he gave his life.
A loved one lost to his children and wife, But known by all and everyone.
In many ways the battle is won.
Value your freedom, use your voice, Others are dying just for your choice.
Don’t let his sacrifice be in vain So freedom is never lost again.
I am Dasha Navalny.
By Olivia Clare, Year 9
When you love you can lose
When you dream you don't always wake up
Nothing is final
Hearts can be broken
Dreams can be crushed
Make the most of what you have
While it's in your grasp
And don't let it go ‘til
You have accepted its already gone
By Olivia Clare, Year 9
If you give
You might not get
If you’re selfless
They're selfish
Winning some say it's luck
No, it's not
It's not luck, if you’re smart
It's not luck, if you’re beautiful
You were handed cards at birth
To help solve your problems
But what happens if you’re handed
The worst deck there is
The Conservative government under Rishi Sunak (2022-2024) seems to be obsessed with the idea of economic freedom. When advocating for their policies they suggest cutting taxes, privatisation, deregulation of the financial market and rolling back the frontiers of the state, all to provide people with economic choice. This, they promise, will allow the economy to grow, to prosper, to put money in the pockets of
They would argue that the reforms made by Thatcher since 1979 have worked. Since 1979, the share of total income going to the top 1% has more than doubled from 3.33% to 7.78%. This is why laissez-faire economics is espoused by those in power - wealthy politicians have the most to gain from this form of economics. As inequality grows, they only become wealthier.
Nationalisation is framed by the media and the government as a great economic evil. The market, they say, is the definition of efficiency; privatised utilities and companies will deliver for the country in a way that nationalised industries never could, saving the government more money in the process. The utilities
spending on railways is now six times higher in real terms than it was when they were privatised in the mid 1990s - not only is service worsening, but the State foots the bill and the money earmarked for these services goes to business owners instead. When privatisation inevitably fails, the government is forced to step in, and this intervention must be funded while the businesses are still paid. In 2012, security service G4S was contracted to provide security for the 2012 Olympics, and the government was charged £60 million for their services. The day before the event began, they told the government that they were unable to provide the numbers they had promised, and the army was forced to intervene. G4S still got their payout. This is where privatisation and the fallacy of economic freedom gets the country - taxpayer’s money in the pockets of companies who have failed to perform in the national interest, when it could have been spent providing better services for less.
Another economic policy of the Conservative government is the deregulation of the financial markets, and it could be argued that in the last couple of decades this hasn’t worked. Since Thatcher’s Big Bang in 1986, the City of London has been able to trade with few restrictions, and the deregulation of the financial markets in the USA was what ultimately caused the 2008-09 financial crisis. The prevalence of subprime mortgages, creation of toxic assets and overuse of complex and little understood mechanisms, such as derivatives, created a bubble, and that bubble eventually had to pop. When it did, it wasn’t the people who caused the crisis that suffered - the banks were bailed out at a cost of £23,000,000,000 (£23 billion) - but instead the public. This expensive bailout was followed by a brutal and sustained austerity programme. Funding to public services,
that many in our government have never used, was cut - indeed, Sunak refused to say whether he was registered by a private GP. While it must be admitted that greater regulations were introduced after the crisis, this simply wasn’t enough, and some of these regulations are being rolled back (as seen in the removal of the banker’s bonus cap). Those already wealthy - those who could afford to wait it out, or invest in property - came out of the crisis unscathed, but ordinary people did not.
It must therefore be questioned who the economic freedom of market deregulation and privatisation pertains to. In the UK alone, 14.4 million people are living in poverty, including 29% of children. This economic freedom only applies to those who can afford choice. Entrepreneurship, while lauded by the government, can only happen when people feel secure enough to pursue it, and, for many, this simply isn’t the reality. Economic freedom can only happen when people can afford heating and food and a roof over their heads. Economic freedom can only be achieved when there is a living minimum wage, when there is free education, when there is a state providing a universal basic income. Total economic freedom, laissezfaire economics, helps the rich get richer into perpetuity and leaves everyone else struggling.
When the top rate of tax is cut by 5%, it’s presented as a choice for the people. For economic freedom. For prosperity. It is not. It never will be. It is a fallacy. Evidence proves it doesn’t work - despite the perception that it does.
ByMr Sheen
Freedom is such a broad concept to consider; it is defined in the Cambridge dictionary as “the right to do, say, or think what one wants.” But I would argue that this definition only skims the surface of what freedom actually means. Freedom is about expression and being able to be an individual in a world where people are far too happy to follow the norm. Freedom is explained best when discussing the individual, and what it means to be able to express oneself as that individual.
Throughout this article I aim to share some of the key influences that have allowed me to show and embrace my own freedom.
Whenever I am asked about what freedom means, I think about one of my own role-models, Martin Luther King Jr., who led the civil rights movement from 1955 to 1968. The aim of the civil rights movement was to achieve equality between white and black people and for all groups to enjoy the same freedoms, such as having the choice to sit where you like on the bus, being able to use public facilities such as the cinema and to use an entrance door to a building rather than using an entrance labelled for animals and work staff. The reason I became a Religious Studies teacher was to raise awareness of a world that needs to change, one that Martin Luther King Jr. strived for: one without injustice, prejudice, and discrimination. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for a world without racism, fought for freedoms that we take for granted today. He fought for the freedom of choice, the freedom of expression and the freedom to not be discriminated against. These issues are crucial to talk about, and because Martin Luther King Jr. spoke up about them - wanting freedom for all rather than freedom for some, rebelling against the system - he was assassinated in 1968.
Music is one of my passions. I believe that music not only heals the soul but also allows people to freely express themselves in many ways and to combat issues in society and one’s own life. Rage Against the Machine was one of my favourite bands growing up, and unbeknownst to me at the time, they were addressing key controversial issues in the world, particularly political and social topics. Rage Against the Machine’s music reflects a deep commitment to freedom of speech and activism, using their platform to raise awareness and incite change. I think back and laugh that I was dancing around my room as a child singing anti-war and protest songs about how awful the Vietnam War was and how there is oppression in the world which has killed people. Music is integral to freedom, not only through the freedom of speech but also through the freedom of expression. Music allows groups of people to be who they want to be, and express their individual tastes. Growing up I never listened to rap, R‘n’B or any types of what can be considered “mainstream music”, but instead I was into my rock, metal and nu-metal. Although it may have separated me from the collective, it allowed me to express myself through the artform of music, which I am forever thankful for.
In the UK we have seen countless protests about a variety of different issues in society - from political problems to environmental issues - there have been protests that have demonstrated the freedom of speech. We are lucky in the UK to have the freedom to express our views and protest for change, for those who have had their own freedoms suppressed. Elie Wiesel wrote about our ability and freedom to speak up for others, and how we must use it. He was a Jewish prisoner in Auschwitz who experienced the horrors of the Second World War first-hand and wrote many books throughout his life, and stated that “silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” This is why I believe that in the UK, having the right to the freedom of speech and the freedom to protest is so integral to life as we have the rights to be able to have our say and to stand against injustice. We must remember that not everyone in the world has such freedoms, and in some countries those who protest are persecuted and sometimes face harsh punishments for speaking out against society’s regulations and rules. If we have the freedom to protest, we must use it in order to gain freedom for everyone.
Freedom is not just a concept that exists within the world that everyone has; it is something that is achieved by coming together as a community and enforcing basic human rights so that everyone can thrive, not just the majority. We as a Pipers community can make the first step into an all-inclusive world by ensuring that everyone no matter their race, religion or sexual orientation can be treated fairly and given the same freedoms. If we, in our community, can achieve this then we can exemplify freedom for all generations to come. In a world that sometimes takes away people’s freedoms, let’s be the community that ensures freedom is shared amongst all.
12
By Danella Jones, Year
Oscar Pistorius was once a victorious paralympian striving for gold, a role-model for keeping a positive mentality in the face of adversity, but ask for him now and you would find that the athlete has been replaced with a grey, chain-smoking killer, with little to fight for. His journey from the pinnacle of athletic achievement to the depths of infamy has been a tumultuous one. As news of Pistorius’ recent release on parole recoils through society, the questions remain: can he ever be entirely free - and indeed should he ever be entirely free?
Pistorius was born without fibula bones, those positioned below the knee joint. His legs were amputated when he was just 11 months old. It was with parental encouragement and support that he began to engage and find physical freedom in sports. He played rugby and water polo whilst in secondary school, and discovered his passion for track when he was rehabilitating a knee injury developed from rugby, aged 16. Pistorius proudly went on to win the 200m event at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens within a year of starting track, and this was the beginning of his sporting journey.
The South African made history when he competed on carbon-fibre blades in 2012 at the London Summer Olympics. This date marks sporting history as Pistorius was the first amputee sprinter to compete in the able-bodied Olympics. The double-amputee went on to proudly win an impressive six gold medals over three Paralympic Games. These titles presented Pistorius with a new nickname: “The Blade Runner”. Pistorius became almost a superhero to the sporting community. Yet, the sport give something back to him too; the physical freedom he desperately craved and emotional release from his daily struggles.
Despite all his success and drive to be recognised as the best, Pistorius threw it all away on Valentine’s Day, 2013. He claimed to have not recognised her. He claimed to have mistaken her for an intruder.
Whether these excuses for shooting his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, through the bathroom door are valid or not remains a mystery to the public, and also to Reeva’s family. He may be the only person who knows what genuinely happened that morning, the rest is purely based on assumptions and circumstantial evidence. As he claimed to not know it was his girlfriend he shot that day, Pistorius was sentenced to culpable homicide; a charge comparable to manslaughter. He was sentenced to five years for this charge and was released on parole in October 2015.
However, the state prosecutors appealed his conviction and in December 2013 the Supreme Court of South Africa overturned his conviction of culpable homicide and found him guilty of murder, and he re-entered prison on a 15 year sentence, having already served two-years of it.
The former para-athlete was granted parole on 24 November, 2023, to eventually take effect on 5 January, 2024, and so Oscar Pistorius was released on parole just this year, January 2024. The question now lies with all of us. Should Pistorius really have the freedom he gained, and does he really deserve it?
Pistorius claimed, “Sport was my salvation, as it helped me get through this difficult time.” Despite these claims that his physical freedom and access to sport got him through his period of incarceration, there are doubts about Pistorius’ natural abilities. His participation in athletics was noticed by international governing bodies, who paid attention to his seemingly natural abilities as a paralympian. This resulted in tests being conducted on his athletic ability and the results from the tests indicated an unfair advantage from Pistorius’ high-tech prosthetic legs, as they decreased the amount of energy he had to expend compared to other competitors. His physical acclaim and successes were dismissed due to potential “cheating” and the International Association of Athletics Federation banned Pistorius from non-disabled competitions. Perhaps these allegations, coupled with his tattered reputation will decrease motivation for the athlete to make use of his previously treasured physical freedom going forwards.
Now, is Pistorius free from himself? Free from the accusations of the public? After being approached by a journalist who viewed him as a man ‘on the edge’, a man who was friendly at first then furiously bad-tempered the next, his reputation in the media is destroyed. His life ahead of him is now heavily restricted and can only offer limited freedom. Every move he makes is being supervised and broadcasted.
His experience in sport may not remain the liberating experience that it once was. Although he is free from jail, will he ever be able to reclaim his mental and physical freedom?
Cuba. A quick Google search will reveal photographs of sublime beaches, exquisite landscapes and vibrant, colourful cities: the hallmarks of a popular tourist destination. What lies behind these; however, is the dark, complicated legacy of one of the most defining moments in Cuban history: the Revolution.
“Freedom” is a paradox for Cuban society when reflecting on the legacy of Fidel Castro. Where freedom was achieved in some aspects, the sacrifice of freedom was made in others. Therein lies the conflict: to some, Castro was (and still is) considered a revolutionary “hero,” a revered figure thought to have transformed Cuba for the better; to others, he is considered a cruel dictator, responsible for the debilitating plague of social and economic difficulty that Cuba continues to suffer.
So what has changed for Cuba? Its education system, for one. Military dictator Fulgencio Batista was in charge from 1940 to 1944, and then again from 1952 to 1958. Cuba was debilitated by 1959. Under Batista, the situation was horrendous. In 1953, 44% of six to fourteen year-olds had no access to education, and only 17% of fifteen to nineteen year-olds attended school. Poorer, rural areas were particularly hard hit, with only 7% of teenagers attending school. Illiteracy was widespread, with 1 in 5 being affected. Economic productivity suffered as a result. Poverty was rife.
Fast-forward ten years, and Cuba is unrecognisable. The introduction of The Literacy Campaign in 1961 saw 100,000 volunteers travelling to remote areas to teach rural communities to read. Over ten thousand primary schools were built in the same year, many former army barracks that Castro converted. UNESCO declared Cuba a territory “free of illiteracy,” with a literacy rate of 99.8%: considerably higher than the US and the UK. Cuba continues to contribute 13% of its GDP to education, almost three times that of the US at 5.6%. And, it's free at all stages, up to and including higher education. Consequently, Cuba is consistently ranked highly for its education system, by comparison to the rest of Latin America.
Add to that the implementation of a free, universal healthcare system, spearheaded by the highly controversial Argentine physician and revolutionary: Che Guevara. Healthcare is considered a national priority and a fundamental human right; it is thus completely free for all citizens, something that not all countries can boast. Under Batista, overcrowding, infectious disease and poor sanitary conditions contributed heavily to poor health with yellow fever, polio, tuberculosis, typhoid fever and diphtheria proving especially problematic. All of these have now been eradicated, owing to the implementation of universal vaccines, one of the highest doctorto-citizen ratios worldwide, and improved access to adequate healthcare, even for the poorest, most remote communities. Consequently, infant mortality rate is at present lower than it is in the US, whilst the average life expectancy in Cuba is longer than the US. Cuba remains one of the only Latin American countries to have completely eliminated severe malnutrition and child homelessness, in spite of ongoing economic difficulties and food shortages.
Despite access to a free, universal education and healthcare system, Castro is oftentimes regarded as being responsible for the economic difficulties plaguing modern-day Cuba. A report from the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights found that 72% of Cubans are living below the poverty line, despite an extremely low unemployment rate. Reasons for the economic decline are varied and complex, but the most often cited one is the embargo on trade that the US proclaimed in 1962 in protest at the Cuban government and Castro. Not only did this cut exports by 95%, but the fact that the embargo was also placed on other countries trading with Cuba has severely limited access to the global market for Cubans. Dependence on agriculture (specifically sugar cane) and an inability to diversify beyond its agricultural industry has complicated the matter. Additionally, Cuba was allied with, and traded extensively with the Soviet Union, leading to a 35% drop in GDP when it collapsed in 1991, leading to a devastating financial crash that Cuba has still not recovered from. Reliance on individual countries for trade (firstly the US, then the USSR) has made it extremely difficult for Cuba when these have disappeared. As such, economic “freedom” is undoubtedly one of the biggest issues still facing the country.
Castro may have been considered a “revolutionary” hero by some, but for others the reality is very different. The Revolution, for them, leaves a dark legacy of brutality and torture. Amnesty International ranks Cuba poorly with regards to human rights, owing largely to repressive policies punishing any form of dissent, a practice that continues today. Thousands of prisoners-of-conscience have been incarcerated in substandard, overcrowded prisons, in which harassment and intimidation are commonplace.
One such example is La Cabaña Prison that contained 11,000 of these prisoners and where Che Guevara oversaw some two hundred executions. Horrifyingly, Guevara considered such executions as “not only a necessity for the people of Cuba, but also an imposition of the people.”
Another deeply disturbing legacy is that of the Unidades Militares de Ayuda a la Producción (UMAPs): the forced agricultural labour camps, operated by the Cuban government from November 1965 to July 1968 and through which some 30,000 people passed. Work mostly took place on the sugar cane fields to boost production. Physical and emotional abuse were commonplace. Those most heavily affected people included conscientious objectors to Castro’s regime, Christians, Jehovah’s Witnesses, SeventhDay Adventists, Catholic Priests, Protestant Ministers, gay men, intellectuals, as well as anybody else considered “anti-revolutionary.”
One account described hormonal experimentation on gay inmates. Many prisoners died as a result of the abhorrent conditions, some by suicide, whilst others were left scarred and ended up in psychiatric institutions.
Punishment of dissent is still commonplace today, as is censorship. Access to the internet is limited and tightly controlled by Cuban authorities. Thousands continue to face imprisonment simply for their political stances, one such example of this being “La Primavera Negra” (The Black Spring), an event in 2003 in which some 75 journalists were arrested in a crackdown on dissent. One of the largest anti-government protests took place in July 2021, triggered by a food-shortage, the economic collapse and the government’s response to the COVID pandemic, causing 400 arrests which incurred lengthy sentences. A report from the Human Rights Watch estimates that Cuba, as of 2023, holds approximately 1,020 of these so-called “political prisoners.”
Castro and the “legacy” of the Cuban Revolution remains a highly contentious topic; considered a revolutionary hero by a large proportion of Latin America and a cruel dictator by others - opinions are varied and complex. Yes, education is better. Yes, healthcare is better. But at the expense of what? At the expense of freedom, economically, socially and politically, a legacy that continues today.
Spanish Priest, Vladimir Navarro, speaking after the anti-government protests in 2021, said that: “the people of Cuba are surviving, and the worst poverty is the lack of freedom.”
And ultimately, that is the price that many continue to pay.
As the Head of Wellbeing at Pipers Corner I have the privilege of witnessing students’ journeys of growth and self-discovery through their personal times of challenge and uncertainty. Each day, I get a first-hand glimpse of our students’ unwavering resilience, determination, and steadfast spirit in the face of challenges. Yet, I’ve also noticed a common struggle among many young people: the pressure to be flawless, successful and to get things right all the time, often with expectations of achievement in their very first attempts. This mindset opens students up to developing a fear of failure, and creates great worry when things do not work out as we would have hoped them to.
Exploring the concept of failure outside of the perceived notion of ‘I am not good enough’ enables us to consider our experiences of failure more fully. In viewing failure as an expansive concept which can provide us with great insight into ourselves, our behaviours and our belief systems - whilst forming the foundations of success to come - it can enable us to ‘Embrace the Freedom to Fail’. Through our experiences, challenges, and successes we can come to view failure as a natural part of personal growth and development. Research within youth mental health and psychology proves that having the freedom to make mistakes, and learn from them, contributes significantly to positive mental wellbeing.
‘Failing forward’ is a concept I often share with students when the fear of failure overwhelms them, or even leaves them in fear of attempting challenges in the first place. ‘Failing Forward’ is more than just accepting failure; it’s about actively learning from it. It involves reflecting on our mistakes, extracting valuable insights, and using them to build resilience and confidence. This process can be completed as a self-reflective solo activity or, if you prefer, speaking with a friend/family member, mental health professional or a member of the Pipers’ pastoral team including myself or the School counsellor.
At its core, the freedom to fail is about recognising that what may initially appear as a failure is merely the seed being planted for future successes to bloom. It’s about embracing the inherent uncertainty of life, knowing that every stumble is an opportunity to learn, grow, and evolve. In embracing the freedom to fail, we can reshape our perspectives on success and mental wellbeing.
Enhancing Your Emotional Intelligence
I want to take a moment to remind you of something important - life is a journey filled with growth, learning, and exploration. In this journey, mistakes are not only inevitable but essential. Therefore, I encourage you to embrace the freedom to make mistakes, to stumble and fall, and to learn from your experiences. Nothing in life is defined and set in stone. We are constantly evolving, adapting, and reshaping ourselves in response to our environment, our experiences, and our own maturity. I am sure you have already seen your personal changes in thoughts, feelings, interests, priorities and mindset that have taken place over the past few years in your life.
By cultivating resilience, honing our skills, and maintaining a positive attitude towards failure, we unlock the path to increased emotional intelligence and lasting success. Daniel Goleman, a psychologist and author of “Emotional Intelligence: Why it can Matter more than IQ,” introduced the concept of resilience in the face of failure, and highlighted its importance in personal and professional success. Goleman’s research has influenced various fields, including psychology, education, and leadership. He emphasises the importance of resilience in cultivating emotional intelligence through embracing failure as an opportunity for learning. This in turn improves our capacity to recover from setbacks, handle stress, and adapt to change. Furthermore, it is understood that adopting a positive attitude towards failure is key to nurturing mental wellbeing. Viewing setbacks not as defeats, but as stepping stones towards success liberates us from the fear of failure.
Within my role and the conversations I have with young people, I am forever encouraging a new perspective to perceived failure in encountering obstacles, whether these be academic, social, emotional or physiological struggles. Whether they are day-to-day hindrances or life altering events - what if we reframed these setbacks as essential components of growth and development? What if we embraced the freedom to mess up, recognising it as an opportunistic pathway to enhance mental wellbeing?
Remember, we all have the freedom to fail, and within every failure lies the potential for future success. I not only encourage you to embrace the freedom to fail, but to embrace the journey of failure itself.
When researching my family tree, I was struck by the overwhelming poverty and destitution of many of my – relatively recent - ancestors. Great-great uncles and aunts galore were listed in censuses living in properties that were later destined for slum clearance or the destruction of the inner-city wrought by the Blitz. One particular example that caught my attention was my great grandmother, Eveline Hill, born in 55 Ely Place, Haggerston in 1887. Ely Place was featured in Charles Booth’s Poverty Survey of London (1886-1903), and he described the street as being, ‘not criminal but [full of] poor thriftless women, drink, two children barefoot [and] dirty broken windows’. Yet here I am – just three generations later - living a comfortable life that would most likely have been beyond Eveline’s dreams.
There are of course many events and many people that changed the course of my family’s history, but William Beveridge deserves particular recognition as a pivotal figure in enabling families such as mine to achieve freedom from want and the freedom to live a fulfilling life.
William Beveridge himself had a privileged background. He was born in Rangpur, British India (now Bangladesh) and like many sons of senior colonial officials, was educated at a British public school (Charterhouse) and Oxford University. Despite his privilege, Beveridge had a deep concern for the socio-economic distress prevalent in Britain in the early twentieth century, which he witnessed first-hand while working for the Toynbee Hall charitable organisation in east London between 1903 and 1905 - not very far from my great grandmother’s birthplace. Here Beveridge saw that charity alone was insufficient and became committed to the – at the time rather radical - idea of government intervention. In the 1920s and 1930s, he served as the Director of the London School of Economics, putting him in the perfect position to witness the double blows of the Great Depression and World War Two. Then, in 1941, he was appointed by Winston Churchill to head a committee whose task it was to make recommendations on welfare services and social insurance. He was now perfectly placed to make a difference.
Beveridge’s motivation was undoubtedly rooted in a genuine concern for the wellbeing of the British people. He sought to address what he called the ‘five giant evils’ of society: squalor, ignorance, want, idleness and disease. He aimed to construct a system that would provide a vital safety net for individuals against these societal ills and empower them to lead more dignified lives.
His Beveridge Report, officially titled ‘Social Insurance and Allied Services’ was published in 1942, three years into World War Two. It proposed a revolutionary blueprint for a comprehensive welfare state. It recommended the establishment of the National Health Service to provide healthcare for all, a system of support including family allowance, unemployment, pension, social security and sickness benefits more far reaching than anything that had ever come before.
The post-war implementation of Beveridge’s recommendations marked a significant turning point in Britain’s social policy. The NHS, in particular, became a symbol of solidarity and equality, ensuring that every citizen had access to healthcare, regardless of their financial status. The welfare state, as envisaged by Beveridge, aimed to break the chains of poverty and empower individuals to pursue their aspirations without the constant fear of destitution.
Beveridge’s vision of freedom was not the traditional laissez-faire vision of minimal government intervention; instead, he believed in harnessing government power to create freedom – freedom from want and freedom to live a fulfilling life. However, he did not intend to create a ‘nanny state’; the benefits weren’t so generous that they would remove an individual’s incentive to work hard to improve their lot. The Beveridge Report instead sought to liberate individuals from the shackles of poverty, insecurity and poor health. In this sense, the Beveridge Report aligned with a broader understanding of freedom as the absence of obstacles to realising an individual’s full potential.
The Beveridge-inspired welfare state, whilst perhaps not perfect, has had a lasting impact on our notions of freedom and social justice. By addressing the ‘five giant evils’, Beveridge paved the way for a society where individuals could exercise their freedom unburdened by the insecurities that had plagued the pre-welfare state era. Families that three generations ago could not see any way out of their poverty, stricken families living in streets like Ely Place, bear very little similarity to the lives of their descendants today and, at least in part, we have the vision of William Beveridge to thank for that.
“To sin by silence, when we should protest, makes cowards out of men.”
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Having dedicated my teaching and working life to environmentalism, I count myself lucky to live where I do and have the freedom to express my views by protesting injustice against the planet. Not everyone has this fortune. In 2022 alone, 177 people were killed around the globe for defending the environment. This equates to someone losing their life roughly every other day, and has been going on for a decade, amounting to over 1,900 deaths. Across the globe environmentalists and Indigenous communities are risking their lives for the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss - but why?
While the Earth’s climate has naturally changed throughout history, current changes are happening at a rate not seen in the past 10,000 years. The year 2023 was recently confirmed as the hottest year on record, at around 1.48 °C warmer than the climate before fossil fuels were burnt on mass. Unfortunately, the effects of these changes have caused increased extreme weather events, food security issues, loss of species and human displacement. Since 1970 alone there has been a global decrease in biodiversity by 69%; this is the variety of life on earth that supports human life on a daily basis. It is for these reasons that people are standing up to protect the environment.
The first published article about the impact humanity has on the climate through the release of carbonic acid was written by a Swedish chemist in 1896, although precise measurements of carbon dioxide were not taken until 1958. Furthermore, concern for the environment in humans can be traced back to over 2,000 years ago in China, India, and Peru. With this in mind, it’s no surprise environmentalism is as strong as it is today.
In America in the 1960s an environmental awakening happened after Rachel Carson published her book, Silent Spring, which covered the use of Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane (DDT) and its effects. DDT was an effective pesticide used in homes, gardens, and livestock production, but it accumulated in the environment with adverse effects and is a known carcinogen. This was soon followed by one of the largest oil spills off the coast of California which killed thousands of birds. Out of these events the Earth Day protest was formed, which saw 20 million American students take part in demonstrations for the planet.
Environmental campaigning then hit headlines in the UK in the 1970s, led by Friends of the Earth, a grassroots environmental campaign group. In 1971 activists gathered thousands of empty bottles and left them in front of the London headquarters of then Cadbury Schweppes (now just Cadbury) to promote recycling and better use of the planet’s resources. They continued to protest over the years, including against the shallow burial of nuclear waste in Lincolnshire in 1987, and the roadbuilding through Twyford Down in 1993.
In the UK today environmentalists are still expressing their frustrations through protest: Extinction Rebellion (XR) and Just Stop Oil are examples of this. In 2023 XR partnered with 200 other organisations for a four-day protest against fossil fuels. This was attended by over 60,000 people, who all expressed their freedom to protest peacefully about something they believe in. Just Stop Oil has also carried out several high-profile protests which have directly impacted many people.
However, the future of freedom to protest for environmentalism may be in jeopardy. On the 2 May 2023, the Public Order Bill received Royal Assent in the United Kingdom. This enabled the police to impose new conditions on peaceful protests and gives less protection to the protestors. Ministers are also currently considering plans to ban MPs and councillors from engaging with protesting groups, adding further distance between protestors and politicians. The reduction of freedom is only exacerbated when you look outside the West. In Singapore for example, if you would like to protest you must apply for a permit and sign a police form, and if this is not granted there is only one park in the country where you are allowed to speak freely outside. In Latin America, anyone from activists to politicians and the indigenous community have been killed for speaking out about the worsening climate crisis and the causes of it.
So why do people continue to fight for environmental freedom? For the same reason that I do, so that future generations have a planet rich in biodiversity to live on.
‘“Why do we want to protect the territory and risk our lives for it? We are not the only ones who need the forest to survive, we have to fight alone, but we do it for the entire planet, we do it for our children and for our grandchildren, so they can live in peace,” said Bepdjo Mekrãgnotire, a leader of the Kayapó people in Brazil. “We will keep the forest standing, we will protect the air, the rivers, the fish, the animals. This is what we fight for.”’
Further reading
“Decade of Defiance” by Ali Hines for Global Witness “The Story of Silent Spring” by the Natural Resources Defence Council “Our History” by Friends of the Earth
Many forms of freedom can be found in sport: physical freedom and the freedom of expression to name a few. Sport can allow you to release stress, engage the body and release endorphins, but the full extent of freedom to participate in this cannot be achieved whilst stereotypes still limit us. Every sport deals with prominent stereotypes in relation to body image and gender roles. It is important to acknowledge these stereotypes in order to broaden our historical and social contexts of these sports and so that we can ultimately overcome and go against these stereotypes. We will explore this idea through our chosen sports: running, ballet and golf.
ByLibbySutton,Year12
Throughout the sporting world there are stereotypes being broken and messages being spread especially about women and girls in sport and what they are capable of. For example the incredible and truly inspirational Lionesses. Football has been a male dominated sport ever since it began in the 19th century, and has grown into one of, if not the, most popular sport in the world with an estimated 3.2 billion fans worldwide. For women it has been much harder to find a way into this sport as they are labelled with stereotypes e.g. that they will not be as good as or at the same standard as men.
Before 1970, women were banned from playing football by the Football Association (FA); however after continued pressure on the FA, the ban was lifted in 1971. It has taken many years for women to be considered as talented as men and still to this day the pay gap between women and men in football is dramatically different. The Lionesses have smashed through stereotypes following their victory in the UEFA EURO 2022 tournament. This has spiked an interest in the sport as young girls now have role models that they can look up to, such as Mary Earps. Lifting these stereotypes for women has created a sense of freedom to be able to thrive in all sports, as you can present your true passions and have the support behind you to achieve whatever goal you set for yourself.
Sport has always been a huge part of my childhood, from swimming, netball, football and tennis to ballet and gymnastics. Whether it's a team sport or an individual sport, it has always been important to me and a great passion of mine.
Up until the age of eight I did many different sports and my journey of endurance running - also known as long distance running - did not properly start until Year 4. After doing many cross-country races/PE lessons and being the fastest girl in my year, I was asked to represent my school. At this race I met one of my future coaches who introduced me to the club I currently run for: Wycombe Phoenix Harriers. I have now been a member there for eight years, and I am an U17 for Cross-country and an U20 for track events/season. There is something freeing in controlling your own race and trying to beat your previous time, mixed with the silent and calm time spent with your thoughts running through the race courses.
Endurance running taught me various skills including teamwork through training with other people, (we help motivate each other to do our best), persistence and determination to keep training and racing throughout the years, even when it gets tough with injuries and studying for exams! I’ve also learnt compassion and appreciation - not only for my coaches but also every woman who has worked extremely hard to demonstrate what is possible in this sport.
Ballet originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century. Noblemen and women were treated to lavish events, especially wedding celebrations, where dancing and music created an elaborate spectacle. Dancing masters taught the steps to the nobility, and the court participated in the performances.
During the Baroque period, ballet began to be used to tell a story, known as Opéra-Ballet. Opéra-Ballet is a genre of French Baroque lyric theatre that was most popular during the 18th century, combining elements of opera and ballet. A prestigious example was André Campra's L'Europe Galante. Following the Russian Revolution, many Russian dancers relocated to London and began teaching ballet lessons to supplement their income, resulting in many pupils being trained in the Russian style.
By Emily Gilmour, Year 12
By
My most prominent ballet idol is Marianela Núñez. She joined the Royal Ballet Upper School at the start of the 1998/99 season and was promoted to Principal in 2002. With the Royal Ballet she has danced the main roles of the classical and contemporary repertoire. She was distinguished as Best Female Dancer at the Critics' Circle Theatre Award 2006.
I have been doing ballet for 13 years, and have recently completed my Grade 8 ballet exam. Ballet is a sport which I feel genuinely passionate about, and it is an aspect of my life that I consider freeing. The dance style itself requires firm support and stamina, however it allows you to utilise your upper body in a free way; you can use your shoulders and hands to communicate gestures.
I find freedom in dancing because it eliminates stress. Stress is the body's reaction to feeling threatened or under pressure. It's very common and can be motivating to help us achieve things in our daily life. In most cases a good way to allow your body to relax is meditation and deep breathing. But another excellent way to help allow your body to relax is by moving. Dancing is a great way to help with stress, as through dancing you are able to not only express your emotions but feel each and every movement.
Like in every aspect of life, there are stereotypes specifically in relation to ballet dancers. The most ubiquitous conception is the physical appearance of ballet dancers. As a ballet dancer myself I have witnessed the ill effects of the pressure on dancers to conform to a certain body type. Although this is a disconcerting subject it is important to understand how common eating disorders are in the ballet world. Around 14.9% of ballet dancers face eating disorders and 50% of ballet dancers are underweight. Many ballerinas deal with eating disorders due to pressure demanded from their teachers to look a certain way. However it is important to remember that this physical demand is outdated and there is an increase in inclusivity in terms of body weight and ethnic diversity in the modern ballet world. Another stereotype is that ballet is predominantly more female in terms of gender. This is a big misconception. There are many prestigious male ballet dancers including Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev. Nureyev is regarded by some as the greatest male ballet dancer of his generation.
There is a common misconception that golf is an acronym for “gentlemen only, ladies forbidden.” This statement for me is far from true. The origin of the sport itself has often been associated as a way for gentlemen to get away from their wives and female friends. Golf has been a male-dominated sport for far longer than women have been allowed to play, and this has made it difficult for women to find their way into the game, as they still have to confront prejudice today.
For me, when I was younger I would always love to come up to the golf club with my dad and practice every weekend, so I was able to get better and improve. I definitely showed my commitment by playing one day in the blustery snow in 0°C and I had to layer up to keep myself warm. That day, no one was on the driving range; it was empty and I can still remember myself hitting balls and my dad filming me.
One of the most rewarding aspects of golf for me is the sense of empowerment it brings. As I navigate the course, I feel confidence with each swing of the club. Golf teaches us to trust in our abilities, to push past our limitations, and to embrace the challenge of the game. Whether I'm teeing off from the first hole or sinking a crucial putt on the final green, I'm reminded that I have the strength and skill to succeed.
Girls then started to join my club and it has become a very inclusive game - in the summer I would practise with all friends, we would play until sunset each evening enjoying each other's company and laughing with one another. For me, I was looking to step outside my comfort zone and embrace a new challenge, and the golf course offers a welcoming and empowering environment.
One specific highlight was when a lady golfer joined the club, and I reached for the opportunity to play with her. We were discussing both my and her future plans. I asked her lots of questions about drills I could take forward towards my game to help me improve and we had a really enjoyable game together. Now, she is a professional golfer playing all around the world for the LPGA ladies tour. This has really inspired me and shows that women can achieve as much as men in golf.
The official definition of Artificial Intelligence (AI) from the House of Lords Library is ‘the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence.’ Some may argue that the rapid development of AI since the 1950s has had a major positive impact on our freedom of expression, changing the way we perceive Art, Education and many other topical issues. However, its future possibilities have also caused concern for others who feel that their freedom is being stolen with the advancement of AI.
Many artists' main problem with AI is how it is ‘trained’ - because it collects its data unethically. It is trained by algorithms and machine learning systems to replicate and adapt existing styles of artwork. The majority of people are happy with the technology; they just want the AI models to be trained ethically, and not on ‘stolen’ art. If this problem is solved, and AI is trained ethically, it can become a significant tool aiding all types of artists.
As a tool for Art, AI can provide creative inspiration. In addition to this, it is also beneficial for people who have less artistic talent, as AI gives everyone the freedom to create images of their ideas in both 2D and 3D, as well as in video format, regardless of skill. AI can also create freedom within Art by helping people visualise things that don't exist, making it easier for those people who normally struggle with this. This could be used to make complex design processes (such as interior design and architecture) easier for the average person to visualise, allowing them the freedom to express themselves artistically in a variety of different media.
Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is a form of AI that possesses the ability to understand, learn and apply knowledge across a wide range of tasks and domains. There is a growing understanding of how schools could use AGI as they begin to adapt and utilise this new technology. We are already seeing investments being made by educational organisations to take advantage of AI. An example of this is the Oak National Academy, (an organisation providing online classrooms and resource hubs in the UK), which invested £2 million into AI that will help teachers with lesson plans, classroom quizzes and more. Teachers and students will be able to benefit as AGI will not stop the creativity of human intelligence, but will instead aid it.
Some may fear that because AI is developing in such a way that it can complete tasks that would originally be done by humans, there will no longer be a need for teachers. However, teachers are irreplaceable; they offer what AI simply cannot produce, human emotion, personal relationships and professional judgement, as well as being able to adapt to individual students and their needs with greater flexibility. Therefore, teachers will still have the freedom to teach as they please; they will have the freedom to decide if they want to use what AI provides to aid their jobs, rather than suffering the replacement of their jobs. Our school has its own rules on the topic of AI. In summary, students at Pipers have the potential to use AI, but this should not compromise the students’ academic integrity. This demonstrates how AI is being embraced in education and within our own school.
Because AI has been developed within our own flawed society, bias have been ingrained into its algorithms that could pose a threat to some humans as they are at risk of facing discrimination. For example, those sending in job applications, (which will be reviewed by AI before being sent on to a panel of employers), may be at risk from selection bias that is created from unconscious previous bias that may have been sourced by data collection.
In November 2023, Rishi Sunak hosted an international summit to discuss the global risks of AI. As AI is regulated by our governments, the current regulatory advice states that AI should respect basic human rights and must follow the data protection law to process personal data fairly. It will also be up to an organisation to apply any additional ethical principles to their AI algorithms.
Overall, AI provides freedom in many different aspects, such as in the Arts and Education. However, it does have its limitations - it has the risk to steal work and replace jobs. However, AI can help increase freedom if there is more understanding about how the algorithms work, and how the models should be used.
By Martha Ford, Year 12
The American Dream originates from the Declaration of Independence which states that “all men are created equal” and that they all have the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. Although these ideas may seem fundamental, the American Dream encapsulates more than that. The term “American Dream” was coined by James Truslow Adams in 1931 in his book Epic of America, and outlines the idea that everyone can “climb the ladder” and build their own life. It often conjures up images of high paying jobs with your own office, a loving family, a hot meal on the table, and the house with the white picket fence. It is not, however, the reality for most Americans.
One of the most iconic landmarks in the world, the Statue of Liberty has also become a symbol of the American Dream, welcoming all who visit the country. At its base is a plaque, upon which is inscribed the following words:
Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
The Statue of Liberty promises a chance for opportunity, prosperity, citizenship and housing. However, the ideals of the Statue of Liberty may be just that: the ideal of an era long gone.
The employment market for young Americans is in crisis. Only 55% of 16-24 year olds have a job, compared to 80% of 25-54 year olds. Economist Bill Rodgers described young Americans as “canaries in the coal mine”, as they are usually the hardest hit by fluctuations in the employment market. They are the warning for everyone else - but they still die.
The reality is that youth in America simply are not afforded the same opportunities as their parents. They consistently bear the brunt of the changes in the labour market, yet can find no job security - no opportunity.
One of the key underlying issues in America is the economic inequality and wealth divide. In fact, the USA has the largest income divide of all of the G7 nations.
This divide is so vast that over the past 50 years, the top 20% of earners have earned over half of the total income in all of the USA. The divide has also doubled since 1989, and 61% of Americans believe that the economic divide is too wide.
This can partly be attributed to the American government. ‘Temporary Assistance for Needy Families’ (TANF), the welfare system established by President Bill Clinton, allows States to decide how to spend their grants issued for poverty relief. This has resulted in spending on abstinence-only sex education (Arizona), Christian summer camps (Maine) and only 22 Cents of every Dollar being spent on directly reducing poverty. This means that not only do the poor lack financial stability, the government resources are misallocated to the extent of uselessness.
The American Dream is personified in the Statue of Liberty, who symbolises an acceptance of immigration, lifting her “lamp beside the golden door”. The ‘golden door’ refers to Ellis Island, the island through which immigrants to the USA would enter for processing. This idea is almost uniquely American - the UK government would never put out messaging for the huddled masses to come to the white cliffs of Dover. However, it is also clearly a fallacy.
After World War One, attitudes towards immigrants, particularly those from Eastern and Southern Europe, began to change. The 1921 Emergency Quotas Act restricted immigration from each country to 3% of the number of people from that country already living in the USA as of the 1910 census. For example, the quota of immigrants from Germany was 67,607, but only 288 from Albania.The anti-immigration legislation continued with the 1924 National Origins Act, which further reduced the number of immigrants by adjusting the quota to 2% of the number of people from that country already living in the USA as of the 1890 census.
These acts were integral in altering American immigration legislation permanently by introducing numerical limits on immigration and introducing the use of a quota system. This also permanently changed America’s acceptance of immigration - defeating Lady Liberty’s proclamation that she will take the “masses”.
The American Dream has evolved to perhaps quintessentially encompass housing, with 74% of American adults viewing it as a hallmark of achievement. However, there is a key block to the American Dream of home ownership - the accessibility of it. Since 2021 alone, house prices have increased by 16.9%. Wages have only risen by 5%. The cost of renting has also doubled in the past 20 years - leaving citizens with less money to save towards a deposit.
The complexities and cost of home ownership have resulted in the median age of first time home ownership being 47 - eight years older than it was prior to the 2008 financial crisis. Many of the older generation, so called Baby Boomers, bought homes in the 1980s, and either kept them as a family house or sold them for profit. The cost of buying a house now is 40% higher than it was then - illustrating the impossibility of achieving the dream many older Americans have.
Langston Hughes, in his poem ‘Harlem’, questions what happens to a “dream deferred”. For many, the American Dream is now unobtainable. America is built upon structural inequalities, with a dream superimposed on it to conceal the impossibility of social mobility. For the vast majority of Americans, the American Dream will merely “fester like a sore”: touted as the cure, but merely concealing the problem.
Homophobia is still a prominent problem in the UK today, despite significant progress having been made over the years. In 2018 it was reported by the LGBT in Britain survey that 64% of LGBT people had experienced violence or abuse aimed at their identity, and in 2021, 42% of LGBT pupils had reported being bullied - more than double the amount of bullying experienced by non-LGBT students. These reports and surveys are proof that even though sexual orientation is protected under the 2010 Equality Act, facing discrimination and homophobia in the UK is a common and unresolved issue.
Homophobia is known to have highly damaging effects on the mental health of young people, particularly students who face peer-on-peer bullying and discrimination because of their sexuality. Half of all LGBT students have reported being called, or have heard, homophobic slurs used ‘frequently’ in a school environment, which should be a safe space for all young people. Anti-bullying policies have been implemented by law in schools in England, however, these policies often aren’t enforced in terms of sexuality and identity. This demonstrates that more needs to be done to protect LGBT students and to abolish homophobic bullying.
Legal progress has been made over the years for the rights and freedom of LGBT people, although it wasn’t until 1967 that homosexuality was decriminalised in the UK with the Sexual Offences Act. By 1972, Lesbian and gay organisations were ‘springing up locally and nationally’, and, as suggested by the Lesbian and Gay Newsmedia Archive, these groups were active in protesting and their campaigns led to the first London Pride event. These protests became so powerful that the movement for gay rights was characterised as the “lavender scare” - with lavender now being a well known symbol for lesbianism - as well as other significant protest movements such as the Stonewall riots. London Pride in 1972 took place on 1 July, the closest Saturday to the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots (28 June 1969), which was a series of violent confrontations between gay rights activists and police in New York. Over 2000 people marched at London’s first Pride. However, it wasn’t until the Same Sex Couples Marriage Act 2013 officially recognised same sex marriage in England and Wales, that a gay marriage actually took place.
When this act came into effect on 29 March 2014, 1,409 gay couples, 56% of them being lesbian couples, were married between midnight of 29 - 30 March.
It is also important to further acknowledge the damage to young LGBT people through the use of social media. Although social media can provide an anonymous safe place for expression and acceptance for young people, it has been used as a tool to harm LGBT students with the benefit of anonymity and temporary messages or posts. 40% of all young LGBT people had been a victim of homophobic bullying online, with 97% of students reporting being able to access or view homophobic content online. It has been recorded that 65% of students feel that online platforms and social media are unlikely to take down or report any homophobic content, despite it being against their own guidelines. These statistics were all taken from the Stonewall British School Report in 2019.
There has been a wide variety of studies done into the reasons behind homophobia and homophobic behaviours in society. One of the more prominent theories in today’s society is that a lot of this prejudice may come from the idea of social conformity, combined with a general fear of not fitting in, rather than an actual ‘phobia’ of homosexuality- as the word implies.
Bullying in any form usually stems from insecurity, which could explain attitudes of some young people towards their LGBT peers, being that, because their sexuality is different from their own, that somehow it gives cause for hateful behaviour. One way to aid with both acceptance of LGBT young people and to spread awareness, is to abolish the stigma surrounding the LGBT community and put a stop to the continued incorrect or stereotypical beliefs that encourage bullying and discrimination. Such stereotypes fall around the physical expression of gay men and lesbians in particular, suggesting that gay men must be more feminine or ‘flamboyant’ than straight men and lesbians are masculine, where one girl must be ‘acting as the man’ in a lesbian relationship.
The effects and consequences of homophobia are still greatly engraved into society and schools and it takes actively standing up for yourself or others to prevent the spread of hate and bullying, whether it is online through social media, or a comment someone makes in person. Homophobia comes in more forms than just violence directed at LGBT people, it includes making half-joke comments on a post about a gay couple, or spreading rumours on someone’s sexuality without them knowing. Homophobia is never okay and every LGBT young person should be free to be with who they want to be, and love who they love without the looming fear of discrimination or lack of acceptance.
By Camille Mandeville, Year 10
A message from the Editor: Camille’s piece is the winner of a creative writing competition run for Art’s Award in the Summer Term under the theme of “dystopia” and the limitations on freedom.
The footage won’t stop playing. They want everyone to see what it is they will do, do to the child who simply walked into the wrong section. Her deep brown hair is matted and has been hacked to chin length. She has a sickly muted complexion. Her hospital gown is dragging as she runs along the concrete road. The man is waiting at the end, and she knows the barrel is already aimed.
A tall man I haven't seen before strolls far too casually into the room, head held obnoxiously high as he gracefully hands a deep blue passport to the boss. He doesn't acknowledge him for an immeasurable second. Long enough that a red mark appears on my arm where my nails are digging in.
The boss is walking laps of the room now, tapping his silver pistol in rows of three on his chest. Though I can see the situation out of my peripherals, my eyes are still trained on the girl on the screen. My heart drops; she almost certainly knows that we are watching - and why.
Two guns fire simultaneously. One through a passport, the other through the girl. Two objects destroyed: one identity.
By MaisyMahoney and Lauren Newitt, Year 11
Freedom is defined as the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants. It is an idea that can be considered fundamental to contemporary society, relied upon by societal ideals such as free speech or the freedom to protest, which are crucial to preventing 1984-esque scenarios. However, the ideal of freedom must always be countered with the need for regulation. With total freedom comes the eradication of anything designed to prevent a person from acting in a way that they wish to. Removing the threat of ramifications for our actions invites an egocentric mindset with little regard for others, and consequently a lack of motivation to act in any way that would be considered to conform to societal rules (laws or unspoken) today. Therefore, limitations on freedom can be considered a civilising force.
Performances such as that of Marina Abramović within her controversial art, Rhythm 0, can be considered evidence of the darker nature of humanity. Rhythm 0 was held in Naples in 1974 and was a performance art piece in which the instructions ‘There are 72 objects on the table that one can use on me as desired.’ and ‘I am the object. During this period I take full responsibility.’ were displayed for the audience. The objects ranged from the mundane, such as a rose or honey, to the menacing such as a gun, a bullet, and a scalpel. By the end of the six-hour experiment Abramović’s clothes had been torn away, her throat had been cut so that someone could suck her blood and she had been sexually assaulted multiple times. The climax of the work came when a loaded gun was placed to her head and her finger was worked around the triggerAbramović was saved only by the few audience members who physically intervened to stop this. Despite this, she stayed committed throughout the piece, moving only when the six-hours were up. Interestingly, the moment she got up to leave, the audience members scattered, afraid of facing responsibility for their actions. The work explored the inevitable conflicts that would arise between the more peaceful people in society and those more willing to commit violence in a world in which people are afforded total freedom. There will always be kinder people with a more balanced moral compass, but without laws to govern right and wrong, their views are simply drowned out.
Hypothetically, total freedom could bring incredible benefits such as possibility, liberty or a joyful lack of responsibilities, with the flip side of a society governed by anarchy and destruction in the absence of laws or other restrictions. Human nature, whether inherent or not, often leans towards more ill-natured actions. Whilst reasons for this may be varied and it is not necessarily applicable to all, the actions of few constitute potential consequences for many, and highlight the necessity of a lack of total freedom in the world today.
The ethical philosophical theory posited by Jeremy Bentham of Utilitarianism is perhaps the fairest application for the civilising force of society - the least amount of restrictions applied to the largest number of people, allowing for the greatest amount of happiness. A managed version of freedom perhaps, but the consequences of total freedom would ultimately result in the breakdown of society and civilisation.
By Trixie Ford, Year 11
In the UK every citizen has the right to free speech. It stands as one of the main pillars of our democracy; it allows us to express our opinions, challenge authority and participate in public debate. However, in modern times the right of free speech has been manipulated and distorted in order to justify and excuse hate speech. Free speech is undoubtedly essential in the world and is needed for people to stand up for their beliefs, and to fight for what is right. However, the misuse of this right allows the spread of discrimination, intolerance and hate, and poses the threat of creating more injustice in the world and resulting in a greater lack of freedom. The right to freedom of speech is increasingly being abused as a shield and excuse for hate speech that undermines the principles of equality, freedom, tolerance and respect that forms the foundations of civilised society. We must not engage with the fallacy that freedom of speech means freedom from consequences. There is a clear distinction between free speech and hate speech and so the mixing of the two seems impossible. The definition of free speech is: ‘the right to express any opinions without censorship or restraint’: freedom of speech allows us to express our opinion, beliefs and ideas without hindrance from the government or other authorities. It protects the freedom of open debate, where individuals can express their opinions and beliefs with others.
On the other hand, the definition of hate speech is: ‘abusive or threatening speech or writing that expresses prejudice on the basis of ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or similar grounds’. Hate speech targets specific groups, and the intent behind it is to belittle, intimidate or threaten violence against them. Free speech advocates for diverse viewpoints and the acceptance of these beliefs, whereas hate speech seeks to silence and marginalise certain groups and furthers discrimination. And so the question is, how do individuals defend their hate speech through the twisted lie of calling it free speech?
In the UK we all have the freedom of religion and the freedom of religious expression. This means that as a citizen of the UK we all have the freedom to belong to and believe in whatever religion, faith or group that we wish and we also have the right to express our views and beliefs. Many people, and rightfully so, use their freedom of religious expression to proclaim their
beliefs and opinions. This is free speech. However, many defend hate speech by stating that they are using their freedom of religious expression, even though their hate speech has nothing to do with what they are arguing. People lack the compassion and the knowledge to know the responsibility that comes with having the right of freedom of speech, and how they must not allow this to stray into hate speech.
In recent years, social media and the use of digital platforms to express one's opinion has boomed. Social media provides a fertile ground for the projection of hate speech under the guise of free speech. The anonymity of social media has emboldened individuals and hate groups to spew extremist ideologies and discriminatory statements. From racist rants to homophobic howls to sexist slurs, the internet has become a breeding ground for intolerance and hate speech has become normalised and amplified. The mixing of the anonymity of social media platforms, fake news and rising levels of access to others opinions has further blurred the lines between opinions and harmful speech, leading to a normalisation of discrimination.
Many argue that, if you are to stop them from expressing their opinion then you are restricting their freedom. However they lack the knowledge of the responsibility that comes with the freedom of speech and they create extreme levels of hate, which leads to others' freedoms and rights being taken away from them.
The normalisation of hate speech is inflicting great harm on its targets, but also affects societal cohesion as a whole. Studies show that the exposure to hate speech, even if it is not targeted at the reader, can lead to increased levels of isolation and a decrease in mental wellbeing. Exposure to hate speech leads to anxiety, depression and feelings of insecurity to those belonging to marginalised groups who are targeted, and a cycle of fear is created that affects all of society. Hate speech undermines the principle of freedom and equality for all and it fosters an atmosphere of fear and division, and threatens the social stability of our world. Shouldn’t more be done to educate people on the responsibility that comes with the freedom of speech, in which they should not target people or project hate into the world?
Undoubtedly it must be argued that free speech is fundamental, not only to have a democratic society but to also allow progression within society as people can express their views, beliefs and opinions in a way that is respectful and helps to advance society positively. The freedom of speech must not be used as an excuse to manifest hate, intolerance or discrimination. On no grounds should hate speech be justified as free speech. There is a clear distinction between the two, and those who use their freedom of speech to express their opinions must understand the responsibilities that come with it. In order to protect the integrity of free speech, so that all are free, it is necessary for governments, religious leaders, digital platforms and the general public to promote a culture of tolerance, compassion, and understanding. Only by recognising the true purpose and meaning of free speech can we ensure that the world becomes diverse and respectful, where each person has worth, equality, dignity and freedom.
When thinking and creating new designs for the world, there is one major consideration which is used in the process without noticing it - Freedom. When designing different things such as a table or a house, there is no limit to the creativity of the project: you are free to do whatever you want. For example, adding different and unique shapes with new textures and materials. Designing is a free way to express yourself and different creative ideas that may pop into your head. I thought with the idea of freedom in mind, I could create a unique design which would reflect the image of freedom in my eyes. I created an outdoor living space, which had free flowing water and trees, whilst being on a uniquely shaped island. When making this space, I immediately thought of using a water feature, which would reflect freedom of adding anything I want into the design.
ByPhoebe Sanger, Year 12
By Emma
As a school, we are aware of the complex, and ever-changing, conflict of the Israel-Hamas War. This article was written shortly after the Hamas attacks on the 7th of October 2023, and, while much has happened since, it raises salient questions about Freedom of Speech and whether there should be limits to expression where harm may be caused. As such, we include it in our 2023-2024 issue of Aquila as an important aspect of freedom to consider in our current complex landscape of conflict and protest.
The imperfect fragments of charred mortar lay sunken amongst the uneven and sunbleached cobbles of Jabalia, disturbed only by the rough soles of the brown, standard issue boots… October 7th 2023 saw Palestinian militant groups, primarily Hamas, launch a major attack on Israel resulting in over 1,000 civilian deaths. Subsequently, Israel invaded Gaza, with their stated intention being to remove Hamas and release the Israeli hostages that had been captured. It is estimated that the Israel-Gaza conflict has claimed over 30,000 civilian casualties - put into perspective, the war between Russia and Ukraine has claimed 10,000. The actions of both Israel and Hamas evoked strong opinions, which saw numerous protests take place in the UK. However, some opinions that have been expressed had the potential to offend, calling into question where the limits of freedom of speech should lie. War clouds the concept of morality, and so whilst it can be argued that war achieves freedom, it has repercussions on the freedom of all involved. Freedom can be seen to be subjective, and so in the context of the Israel-Gaza conflict, it is vital the experience of each individual is considered to prevent ignorance. In a recent protest at Westminster, the slogan ‘from the river to the sea’ was displayed. The protest was attended in mass, and yet many did not consider the true meaning of what they chanted. The slogan ‘from the river to the sea’ implies the removal of Israel, and so stands solely in solidarity with the Palestinians, and in doing so unintentionally condemns and expels the Israelis. More so it promotes the elimination of a large Jewish population, and thus has the potential of being used to advocate for antisemitic beliefs.
Israel is associated with the Jews in a way in which other countries are not immediately defined by the religion of the majority - Israel is the only Jewish nation in the world. Furthermore, anti-semitism, due to the association with The Holocaust, is often seen to be genocidal. In discussing the Israel-Gaza conflict we must be cognisant that freedom of speech has its limits when we consider historical context. In recent years, the Labour Party has been subject to much criticism - Jeremy Corbyn and Sir Keir Starmer have both been accused of allowing anti-semitism among party members. Whilst at present there remain Labour Party members who continue to be more critical of Israel in comparison to others in the party; the official stance of the Labour party still remains that Israel has a right to defend itself. This has created internal conflict in the party, so much so that the Labour party pressured the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, to break with convention so that they could avoid a vote on a ceasefire in Gaza. This stance on the conflict, and refusal to commit to a ceasefire in Gaza has resulted in much criticism of the party. Similarly, Stephen Flynn, the leader of the SNP in Westminster has criticised the Conservative government for their handling of the Israel-Gaza conflict, using the majority of his questions in PMQs to call for a ceasefire and ask that the Conservative government do the same.
The freedom of speech is one of the key defining factors of democracy and one which we must be greatly appreciative of. In the UK we have the right to protest; however, that does not mean we have the right to decide who is right and wrong, especially in the context of Israel and Gaza. The Israel-Palestinian conflict is complex and has resulted in the loss of lives of both the Israelis and the Palestinians. Both the Israelis and the Palestinians have had their freedom stripped, and both fight for what they believe to be right. Therefore, we must understand the limits to the freedom of speech, ensuring, whilst opinions may be expressed, they must not stray into expressing an opinion that has the potential to cause harm to others.
…boots which blistered through worn Modak or Zicletsous grey socks which bore the name Ben, any other letters long ago lost to sweat and dirt.
By Mary Winfield , Year 13
The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights safeguards the freedoms of expression, assembly, and association. These essential rights ensure that democracy thrives, and encourage an open and equitable society where individuals can seek justice and enjoy their inherent human rights without fear of intervention. Throughout our nation's history, humanity has relentlessly pursued freedoms and liberties. From the foundational Magna Carta in 1215, to the grassroots uprising of the 1381 Peasants Revolt, from the upheaval of the English Civil War (16421651), to the establishment of the pivotal 1689 English Bill of Rights, the struggle for liberty has been a constant theme. A struggle borne out in the efforts of organised movements such as the Chartists and the Suffragists. A struggle that encompasses the trials and sacrifices of the two World Wars, labour disputes like the miners' strikes of the 1980s, the civil unrest symbolised by the Poll Tax Riots in the 1990’s, and, more recently, the Occupy and #BlackLivesMatter protests.
Whilst acts of activism and unwavering determination have paved the way for significant advancements in social, gender and economic equality in the United Kingdom, the unfortunate reality is that many citizens worldwide are not afforded these liberties we enjoy, with some governments relentlessly imprisoning individuals for expressing their views. Even though nearly every constitution recognises the concept of 'free speech,' certain countries subject their citizens to severe consequences for exercising this right. Governments have a responsibility to prevent harmful and provocative speech, but some administrations abuse their authority by passing laws that restrict freedom of expression and peaceful opposition. These measures are often justified as necessary for national security, counterterrorism, or religious reasons.
Moreover, authorities have recently been targeting activists, non-governmental organisations, and those who assist refugees and migrants, further impeding freedom of expression. Even in the UK, the Public Order Act of 2023 criminalises the protest strategy of individuals who attach themselves to objects or buildings with the intent to cause disruption.The locking-on offence (a key protest strategy used historically by groups such as the Suffragettes) now carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. However, the right to peaceful protest is arguably a fundamental aspect of freedom of assembly and expression, safeguarded by articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights and incorporated into British law through the 1998 Human Rights Act. Is this not an infringement on freedom?
The situation in the UK is unquestionably better than in other countries, where having the legal right to vote does not always guarantee a realistic freedom of opportunity to exercise that right. In some places, women are still prevented from voting, (even when they have the legal right to do so), often due to harassment and violence at the polls, or pressure from their families. Pregnant females are given priority access when voting in Kenya, yet, according to the watchdog website ‘Votes without Violence’ and a 2019 United Nations report on election-related violence, individual instances of harassment or violence against female voters on polling day remain a concern and prevent many voters from exercising this
freedom. All Egyptian citizens are automatically registered to vote when they turn 18 years old; however, according to a 2022 report by the non-profit Borgen Project, the requirement to show valid identification on election day can suppress the female vote, as women in this traditionally male-dominated society are less likely than men to have such a form of identification, and, even if they have identification, it is often carried by their husband, father or another male relativewho can withhold it and prevent them from voting if desired, thus prohibiting them from exercising their democratic freedoms.
The digital realm provides many individuals access to essential information, enabling them to scrutinise governments and corporations. Knowledge is a potent force, and the internet promises to empower the world's seven billion inhabitants substantially. However, many governments are increasingly erecting barriers to digital communications, with countries like Egypt, Sudan, and Zimbabwe responding to large-scale street protests (a freedom that should be guaranteed as a right to assembly) by implementing internet shutdowns and limiting freedom of information. Iran, China, and Vietnam have also all endeavoured to develop systems which would enable them to regulate access to digital information. In India's Northern Kashmir region, mobile internet and communications are frequently suspended in response to unrest. Contemporary freedom of expression often hinges on wealth, privilege, and social standing; the affluent and influential are rarely constrained in voicing their opinions, and individuals with personal laptops with the internet enjoy significantly greater access to information than those who do not.
Today, citizens in the UK, as in many parts of the world, continue to benefit from the legacy of those who have historically fought to establish and defend our freedoms, enjoying expanded rights and opportunities once denied to them. However, challenges to freedom persist, and the fight for freedom remains ongoing in evolutionary, and often revolutionary measures, underscoring the importance of continued advocacy and activism to ensure that all individuals can fully exercise their rights. The freedoms of expression, assembly and association are all protected by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Exercising these fundamental rights, free from fear, lies at the heart of thriving democracy within an open society. Within such a society, individuals can seek justice and freely enjoy their inherent human rights. However, this is not the reality for a lot of citizens in countries around the world, with some governments persistently incarcerating individuals or subjecting them to even graver consequences merely for expressing their views, even though the concept of 'free speech' is enshrined in the constitutions of nearly every nation. Should the freedoms of the many be curtailed to enhance the freedoms of the few? Can freedom of speech genuinely exist alongside antidiscrimination laws? Is the trade-off between hate speech and freedom of speech worth it, especially today, where internet anonymity is often hailed as ‘the last bastion of freedom’?
Governments must curtail hateful and inflammatory speech, yet numerous administrations exploit their power to stifle peaceful opposition by enacting legislation that criminalises freedom of expression. Such measures are frequently justified under the pretext of counterterrorism, national security, or religious concerns. Additionally, there has been a recent trend of authorities infringing upon freedom of expression by targeting activists, non-governmental organisations, and individuals who assist refugees and migrants. For example, the Police, Crime and Sentencing Act 2022 gave more power to the police force, the criminal justice, and sentencing legislation, encompassing restrictions on "unacceptable" protests, crimes against children, and sentence limits. Yet, the right to peaceful protest is enshrined in the rights of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, protected respectively under articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, that we accepted in the creation of the 1998 Human Rights Act. Are these measures not an imposition on our freedom, that we have gone to great lengths to obtain?
When I was asked to write this article on Freedom, I spent a long time considering what freedom means. On one hand it’s obvious – it’s the opposite of being trapped. But the more I thought about it, the more complicated it became. I circled around freedom of choice, freedom of expression, freedom of thought, freedom of speech. Freedom is abstract. Whilst it can be a physical freedom, more often than that, it’s a feeling. Whether or not you feel free often comes down to personal circumstances. Amazingly, this can even happen in very extreme situations. Freedom is associated with liberty and autonomy, yet I heard a story recently about a prisoner who was trapped in a tiny cell for years on end. During his long incarceration, he built a house in his mind. He did this in real time, so he imagined the back-breaking months it takes to dig out the ground, then he laid the foundations, and slowly, slowly, he created his dream house. He literally built his freedom in his mind, whilst all the time he was trapped in a cell with no sense of liberty or autonomy and very little hope of physical freedom.
Hopefully, none of us will ever experience anything as awful as that. But I’m sure we can all relate to that feeling of being stuck. Stuck in a routine, stuck for ideas, stuck emotionally. Freedom allows us to change, to choose what we say, think, or act, but what if we can’t? Or rather, we don’t know how to?
When we’re very young, we rely on our parents to help us sort things out. They may explain the choices we have, and then guide us into making a decision based on the best of these choices. But as we get older, and enter the long years of adolescence, we begin to move away from looking at our parents for guidance. We’re trying to work out who we are, as individuals. We may turn more to friends for support and comfort as we navigate the multitude of different faces, fashions and attitudes we’ll encounter through our teenage existence. This is all perfectly normal and a necessary preparation for adulthood.
By Mrs
But it can be a bit of a rocky road. We find, along with our quest to discover who we are, that we have responsibilities. We can’t just do whatever we feel like. There are rules. Our freedoms must not negatively impact those of another. It’s important to consider that, while we have the freedom to think, say and act as we feel is true to us, so does everyone else. And everyone’s freedom looks different. As we saw in the story about the prisoner, it doesn’t even have to be a physical freedom. Sometimes the most powerful freedom we have is in our mind. Whatever pressures or constraints are placed upon us by parents, school, society in general or even ourselves, we can all absolutely find freedom in our imaginations.
So far this has been a general discussion on freedom, but now it’s going to get personal.
Think for a moment – what is your freedom?
Reading a book, watching a film, dancing like no-one’s watching, singing in front of the mirror like Beyoncé, performing on stage, swimming in the sea, playing for or supporting your favourite team, listening to your favourite band while wearing the T-shirt you got at their last gig, wild camping, going to festivals, hiking, galloping for miles on horseback or being with your friends.
Think of the place where you feel happy, free and totally like you. There may not be anyone else there with you, or you may be surrounded by many. Think of that feeling. Harness it. This is your superpower. This is (literally) your freedom.
The next time you feel stuck, or trapped, think about what makes you feel like you, and do what you can to make it happen. Even small moments of freedom are enough to help us when we’re feeling stuck. And if you haven’t yet found the thing that makes your heart sing, you will. Teenage years are meant to be a voyage of discovery, so discover who you truly are, and fly free.
The popularity of Korean and Japanese music of various genres has skyrocketed in recent years, and with this has come an increase in scrutiny on the music industries of the two countries - though it is difficult to tell whether this is due to genuine concern for artists health and safety, or if it is xenophobia disguised as criticism of the music industry. Inevitably, with a rise in popularity of both K-Pop and J-Pop, there has also been a rise in awareness of the exploitation faced by artists in the music industries of these countries. Exploitation in the music industry can range from sexual, to emotional, to financial. The most prominent is the emotional exploitation faced by artists, which has unfortunately been present within the music industry for decades. Though, as mentioned previously, it has only been drawn to people’s attention in more recent years as a result of new, rising popularity of these particular Korean and Japanese artists.
Emotional abuse is defined by the NSPCC as ‘ongoing emotional maltreatment’ - a definition open to multiple interpretations - though in this case, it is generally interpreted as emotional manipulation to coerce someone into acting against their will. This kind of exploitation has a clear effect on the artists themselves, but it also somewhat affects viewers. In all countries it is inevitable that artists’ actions have an influence on their viewers, though with a fanbase as dedicated as that of Korean and Japanese artists, it seems that this influence is further heightened.
The significance of this influence is highlighted by what the use of emotional exploitation most predominantly involves: pressuring artists to maintain a certain physical appearance. In both Korea and Japan, beauty standards are often extreme and these are projected onto artists who are, as a result, heavily criticised for not looking the way they are expected to. In order to ensure their artists reach these standards, companies will often force extreme diets upon them, which when looked at from the point of view of fans, appears as something to strive towards and aim for, and can lead to the undertaking of extreme and unhealthy diets within the fan base as well.
Popular Korean ballad singer IU has, in recent years, become increasingly open about her struggles with her mental wellbeing, with her battles with bulimia and anxiety being at the forefront of her recent campaign to increase awareness of these issues.
Again, whilst cases such as this have been common in the Korean music industry, no sweeping statement can be made to refer to all artists and all companies.
Exploitation in the Japanese music industry is far less publicised than
that of the Korean music industry. Although ‘J-Pop’ is one of the most listened to genres in the world, it is far less internationally popular than Korean music. This is a result of Japan’s large population, andthough it does have international fans - this is where most fans are based. Because the conditions that artists are subjected to arise partially as a result of Japanese culture, meaning that the majority of Japanese artists’ fanbase are more accepting of issues of control. On the other hand, ‘K-Pop’ fans are more globally widespread, allowing for the expression of a wider range of different views and opinions on the exploitation suffered by these artists. As a result, it is difficult to tell in which country this type of exploitation is most common, though at first glance it would seem that it is most common in Korea, due to the immense publicisation compared to Japan.
Despite the immense negativity surrounding this topic, it ought to be noted some of the positive advances being made towards a less exploitative environment for artists. Much of this progress has been made by currently popular artists, such as IU, and Mamamoo’s Hwasa, who, since the beginning of her career, has used her platform to spread body positivity and break some of the toxic standards and stereotypes for the benefit of artists and fans alike. As a result of this, it is clear that some of this toxicity is beginning to deteriorate. Nevertheless, the exploitation occurring in the music industries of Japan and Korea is undeniable, though its improvement should also be acknowledged when taking into account the considerable changes the music industries of these countries have undergone in the recent years.
By Emily Isaacs, Year 12
It is hoped that in the future companies will begin to show more support for their artists’ work in order to break such stereotypes and expectations, and begin to create a music industry in which all are accepted. Though these companies may not have initially had any vitriolic intent with their actions towards their artists, there are aspects of the music industries in both of these countries that clearly require alteration. Through making gradual changes to the industry, such as accepting artists for who they already are, and not coercing them into changing themselves, this industry will become one that artists are happy to be a part of.
Though these may be difficult changes to make, they will ultimately be incredibly important for the physical and mental health of artists, and the effect will positively impact the quality of work and music they release.
Although it is impossible to satisfy everyone, this changed industry will hopefully be one in which artists are able to be themselves, and will no longer be forced to change to please other people, encouraging greater freedom to create music, whilst also being free to express themselves.
Across these pages you will find dotted around moments from performances, like the Senior School Production of SIX, the 2024 Junior and Senior Dance Show, Prep Christmas Show and the Pre-Prep Nativity.
At Pipers, we encourage every student to engage in activities and extra curricular clubs that make them feel free.
This year students across the Pipers community achieved great things, not only through exam results and Inter-House competitions but also in their own external interests.
We could not be more proud of our Pipers students and how far they have come this academic year, and we wish the best of luck to every student in our community, and look forward to the many achievements yet to come!
In one of my favourite books, The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood explores the concept of “Freedom to” and “Freedom from”. As often in good literature, this idea illuminates an everyday concept, in this case freedom, an idea which, when I first read the book in my early twenties, I had previously thought was probably quite straightforward. In Atwood’s hands, and in the setting of the dystopian world of Gilead, it is anything but. It is also increasingly clear that it is not straightforward in the modern world either.
For those of you who have not yet read the novel, The Handmaid‘s Tale is a book set in a future in which all the freedoms which women “enjoy” today have been taken away and have been replaced by a brutal system of rules. The Aunts seek to indoctrinate the Handmaids by telling them that their position is so much better than the time before, when too much freedom led to a society broken by civil unrest, technological overload and environmental disaster: they claim that the “freedom from” the chaos and immorality of the past is in fact a far more important freedom than the “freedom to” live as they liked before.
Atwood herself has pointed out that every atrocity in the novel has been carried out by totalitarian regimes in real life - so this brilliant book looks both backwards and forwards, and serves as a warning for the present day. It leaves the reader in no doubt about the importance of freedom, self-determination and choice - in fact it is this which makes it such an uncomfortable and compelling read. And yet, the idea of “freedom from” resonates beyond just the guarded borders of the imaginary state of Gilead, and it is something that I often find myself muttering about today.
When, for example, one sees a sign on a grassy slope warning “This grass may be slippery when wet - please take care”, I worry that we are becoming free from the need to use our own common sense. Will the fact that some schools ban children from playing conkers stop them from finding out what hurts? Discovering the outcome of your actions, and learning to use common sense is all part of growing up, and school is a good place to do that. In the supportive environment of a school, in which students have systems in place to aid their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, surely we can facilitate an environment for creative thinking and exploration, to allow students to discover the world themselves, and embrace the freedom to take chances.
At university campuses all over the country - institutions of learning and questioning - debate is growing over the need for students to be protected from hearing things they might not agree with. “No-platforming” now prevents certain groups or individuals from speaking on campuses… such controls certainly seem to echo the Aunts’ “freedom from”: in this case, the freedom from being exposed to offensive views. Those who think that students should have the freedom to make up their own minds feel that no-platforming stifles free speech and debate, whereas others claim that dangerous ideologies will spread more quickly if they are platformed, particularly if they are platformed within institutes of learning. By providing credence to these views, particularly in intellectual situations, there is a fear that these ideologies could become more accepted and even given value. However, we must trust those engaging in intellectual pursuits to make up their own minds and consider debates critically. As Orwell’s Animal Farm shows us, if we can’t trust the most educated in society to make the right decisions for all - there is little hope for mankind. This issue of no-platforming is also extending into cultural institutions and the arts. Will we find the great plays of our time consigned to dusty shelves because someone could be offended by the portrayal of Shylock, or, of Anne Frank, on stage; will Journey’s End’s portrayal of a dugout in WW1 become far too triggering to be acceptable … I value the freedom to sit in tears watching these plays and understand that, like others around me, I would be changed by what I see, even if it contains challenging content. Recently, I was both mesmerised and chilled by the brilliant London production of Cabaret, a devastating critique of apathy and totalitarianism. However, unlike the 1972 film in which Jews barely feature - this modern production has at its core a sub-plot, which was excised from the film, focussing on the romance between an elderly Jewish greengrocer and his non-Jewish landlady. With growing awareness around the telling of Jewish stories and the historical hurt that pertains to the portrayal of Judaism and Jewish issues, will this land differently to some, being viewed as ‘too painful’ for the stage, even though it is approached with care and respect? I hope not, because not only is it one of the best productions I have ever seen… but we need to learn from history, and there is no better place to do this than in the theatre or within the pages of a book.
One has to ask questions about who it is that decides what needs to be shut down, ultimately. As history has shown us through the anti-intellectualism of Pol Pot in Cambodia, the book burning of the Nazis, the limits on freedom of expression under the Communist regimes in the People’s Republic of China or Cuba, or by dictators such as Pinochet or General Franco - power too often comes from restricting freedoms of speech and thought, and withholding education has been used over and over again (and is still being used in some parts of the world today) to suppress thinking, and even the actions which can follow it. If, in 2024, we are still suffering from limitations on our ability to learn and think due to restricted access to information, we must consider the consequences of losing our “freedom to” learn.
The real question is: how can we ensure that we have the freedom to live and engage with a diverse culture of views, and how can we ensure that we protect intellectual freedom whilst also respecting all members of our society. We must strike the balance between restricting hate speech and allowing debate - as Voltaire said “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”.
For me, I shall read some more.
Mrs Ness-Gifford Headmistress
Pipers Corner School
Russell has been a member of the Pipers Community since 2009 and during that time he has led a key team in the School to develop the language skills of our students from Pre-Prep to Year 13. Always keen to develop the spoken language he ensured students had ample opportunities to practise and develop including leading trips abroad. He has guided many students as a Form Tutor, spending many years supporting Sixth Formers with university applications and helping them make decisions about their future. Russell is a talented trumpet player who has regularly contributed to School music events, and the poignant sound of his Last Post at our Remembrance Assemblies will be missed.
Sue joined Pipers in 2003 and has radiated and sparkled ever since! Much loved by everyone who spends time in her presence, Sue has been the Director of countless incredible performances within Pre-Prep and Prep, from Nativities to Shakespeare, Bugsy Malone movies to Frozen on stage. She has empowered students to become confident and articulate, with many discovering a passion for The Arts. She was the pioneer behind Senior students’ involvement in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a caring Sixth Form Tutor, empathetic teacher of Life Skills and a passionate Arts advocate to local schools through Pipers Outreach. Committed to the end, she supported students in achieving 100% Distinction level in the ESB, a feat so astonishing that the CEO of ESB insisted on meeting Sue and her students to investigate the secret of success. Sue had moved to a parttime role recently to enable work as a LAMDA examiner, and she will continue to do so when she returns to her beloved North-West along with other exciting projects.
Paul joined the Geography Department in January 2016, bringing with him a wealth of experience which his students quickly benefited from. His robust, no-nonsense approach meant that he was well respected by students and colleagues alike. Paul always worked incredibly hard to ensure that students were well prepared for external examinations and this was reflected in the results achieved by all. During his time at Pipers, he has enjoyed fieldwork trips to a variety of locations, including the Isle of Arran, Iceland and the Azores and has been a great support within the department, brightening each day with his unique sense of humour. Always up for a challenge, Paul leaves us to take on a new path in his teaching career as a teacher of Computer Science.
Beren named his group for those students wanting to push their scholarship, “Surgent”, after the school motto. Beren could not have done more in his time at Pipers to allow young people to rise. From the moment Beren joined the School, he spoke effortlessly and endlessly on developing young people’s interest in the world, the importance of critical thinking, on arming their flight, the importance of empathy, and I knew Beren had to be at the heart of the School. While village and town libraries may ebb into dust, under Beren, the library became the home of intellect and learning and, to borrow from CS Lewis, a wood of many pools each leading to another world, a jewel in the Piper’s crown. Beren’s reading list suggestions would make the timid quake, but he never accepted that any student could not aspire to the classics and these were placed at the heart. Chess spilled out into the Library Classroom, rubbing shoulders with students opening pages on Greek mythology. In a kaleidoscopic world of TikTok, SnapChat and ten second posts, Beren seemed to hearken back to those Classical Greek thinkers, stroking his chin thoughtfully, “Well, it is, but on the other hand… Well, yes, precisely.”
A sign of a true teacher, nothing delighted Beren more than a student taking steps down a richer path. Beren helped lead the School in Critical Thinking, and Independent Research, through the EPQ programme and countless Library sessions. Beren leaves to complete his PhD. One can only hope this hugely respected teacher and colleague returns to work with students, modelling the true purpose of a library.
Debbie Easterbrook joined Pipers as a Boarding Housemistress from Harrogate Ladies College in 2009 following a successful career in the Women’s Royal Army Corps. Since those early days in boarding taking her small charges out on trips at the weekend and overseeing homework and bedtimes in the evenings (and everything else which comes with a busy job in a boarding house), Debbie has made herself indispensable in so many ways as the School itself has developed and grown. She has most notably made a significant impact on the educational experience for both our youngest and oldest students. She was the leading force behind introducing Forest School to Pipers and also in developing our Duke of Edinburgh Awards programme beyond offering just Bronze - and it is very clear just how many students have benefitted from both of these programmes over the years. With a background as a PT Instructor in the Army she has also worked in the PE Department and has run our Breakfast Club for many years.
That something was new or challenging - introducing students to the far more demanding Silver or Gold DofE expeditions, for example, or teaching very young children how to use knives in our woodland - has never fazed Debbie and she has made sure that our students have not only been taken out of their comfort zones…but that they have done this safely… and with a real understanding of why these rules exist. It has been a privilege over the years to see the students’ joy when they manage, after a lot of trying, to get their fire striker to produce that elusive spark to land on their tinder to start their fire - and even better to see that joy and pride reflected in Debbie’s face as it happens. Both teacher and student could have given up…but giving up is not in Debbie’s vocabulary. That she would sometimes stop on the way back from Forest School to let the Pre-Preps discover the joy of jumping in puddles is a priceless quality in a teacher. So many students over the years have learnt survival skills of all sorts which have made them feel at home in and appreciate the outdoor world and this has become central to a Pipers education.
Whether she was to be found in the Woodland making S’mores with Year 3 before camping overnight, or in Wales with Year 13, or even visiting Buckingham Palace on occasion… Debbie has always been proud to be “a Pipers Girl” and we know she will remain in touch with our community.
We wish Debbie well for her retirement - which we are sure will be very busy and filled with all sorts of exotic, term-time cruises!
Sarah joined the Prep Department in 2008 and has taught almost every subject and age group available. Lessons with Sarah were always extremely well-organised and showed a genuine attention to detail. This skill set was also evident whenever the Prep timetable was released, and she searched for ways to make the staff and student experience as good as possible. Science teaching became her speciality area, and she was instrumental in re-writing the Prep curriculum and making a successful application for the nationally recognised Primary Science Quality Mark. It was clear to see that she wanted to bring Science to life and the quality of practical lessons delivered made it the favourite subject for many students. Sarah was also heavily involved in the House System and Gardening Club, which will undoubtedly continue during her retirement in Devon.
Sheridan leaves us as Wardrobe Mistress. From designing incredible costumes for shows such as Starlight Express and Six, making alterations, to ensuring everyone looks their best, Sheridan has been an essential member of the Drama department team. Her professionalism and creativity have made a real difference to our shows and we are hugely grateful for all she has done. We wish her all the best for the future and she will be hugely missed.
Lily joined us in September 2022 and brought with her a passion for teaching and huge amounts of enthusiasm. Lily is an incredibly talented teacher who always manages to find a way to weave her humorous nature into her lessons and add a dose of fun to everything she does! Lily is a real team-player and our department was lucky enough to learn a lot from her in the time that she was here. Lily's bubbly personality will be sadly missed and we were very lucky to have the chance to work with her.
As our Director of Sport, Gill has had an impact on so many students and steered her team with unwavering dedication. Gill brought a fantastic sense of humour to the role, making every interaction enjoyable. Her department describe her as the kindest person they know, and her compassion shines through in every aspect of her work. She always gives her best, showing unwavering care for anyone lucky enough to cross her path. Her aim is always to provide students with the best possible experience whether that be in a lesson, recreational or competitive endeavour. Gill has restructured the PE extracurricular offering ensuring sport for all, and all levels, but also ensuring consistent, high-quality training each week. This dedication has led to some outstanding team performances, including coaching the U16 netball team to the Sisters in Sport Plate Final. Her leadership and unwavering support for her colleagues have been invaluable, always ready to back you to the hilt and find solutions to any problem. She will be missed, and we wish her well in her new role
Naomi joined the school in 2022. She led our Careers Department with a clear focus and a drive to ensure that all students had the prospect to see the vast array of careers and opportunities ahead of them. Naomi quickly linked with our alumnae, encouraging them to share their knowledge with students across all year groups, either in year group assemblies, preparation for university events or at our Careers’ Evenings. She introduced the Careers Newsletter highlighting events and ideas beyond school creating an excellent resource for both students and parents. Having researched many careers in her post, Naomi left us to pursue a new direction working in the environmental field.
Catherine Simons concludes her time at Pipers Corner after three years, having made a significant impact to the Drama department. Her commitment within the classroom and to all of her extracurricular performances has been invaluable. She will also be greatly missed as Penn House Champion. While we are sad to see her go, we wish her all the best in her future endeavours. Thank you, Catherine, for your dedication and hard work.
In September 2020 when lockdowns were still a possibility and, sadly became a reality, Sarah joined us as Head of Prep music. Teaching from Reception through to Year 8, she rose to the challenge of teaching nine different year groups with great dedication and professionalism. A hugely creative person, Sarah has been involved in many Prep and Pre-Prep productions and has produced inspiring Prep Concerts that have wowed us each year, with everyone being fully involved with props, themed songs that are perfectly memorised and whole-class performances on violins, recorders, African drums, Samba and more. She has particularly facilitated students in Prep to sing with real skill and projection in a massive range of styles and periods as well as taking on and directing the school orchestra, Sinfonia, with great aplomb and commitment. Sarah’s dedication and experience have left a lasting impression on our school community; we wish her continued success in her next post.
Elspeth has been part of the Dance Department for nearly five years. During that time, she has worked unfailingly hard; gaining a reputation for being chief organiser, logistics queen and Excel spreadsheet wizard. She also has created wonderful relationships with the students who, “love her Zumba warm-ups”, and creative choreography in the Dance Show; some notable examples being based on Sea Turtles, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Astronauts. Elspeth will be greatly missed by staff and students alike, and we wish her so much luck with all her future Dance Teaching.
W X E S S E R P Y O B L E E R F A W
H B O Y C O T T N I S E I R E P R I
F E N O I T A T I L E M T I N L E E
R S L E X P R E S S I O N E I M R E
E E N I M R E T E D T R T O W A R S
E E C E I O R E T E L R A E S O T O
D E T E E M N T L R E N M P D M O T
O R E N L M T R O W I M I N A E P E
M E E T E R L A W T O E A T I L E T
N E I O Y W T E L I O R S N A T O M
I N D E P E N D E N C E R E E E S E
O R P R I V I L E G E T N I M E E E
T M E N T I T L E M E N T E Y R W S A U T O N O M Y T Y R E B I L I T I
• PEACE • PROTEST • ENTITLEMENT • DETERMINATION • BOYCOTT • POWER • PRIVILEGE • EXPRESSION • AUTONOMY • INDEPENDENCE • LIBERTY • FREEDOM
Hey, over here!
We want to give you some space to show us how creative you are! Grab some pencils and have a go at our activity pages all about FREEDOM! You can colour in, do the dot-to-dot and even find some funky words in the crossword, and don’t forget to write down how many butterflies you saw flying through our magazine!
Pipers Lane, Great Kingshill, High Wycombe HP15 6LP, www.piperscorner.co.uk
PipersCornerSchool
PipersCornerSch
PipersCornerSch