Learning

Children should be seen, not heard. My siblings and I had this drummed into us growing up and it was in keeping with the educational process of the day I suppose. Learning was based on repetition, both at home and in school and the quicker we learned, well, there was less to fear from the strap. Corporal punishment was sanctioned and made our lives one of fear and misery,for the most part.

Thankfully,times have moved on and today's children are seen and heard and this was very evident in the John Macintosh Hall throughout the week llth-15th February. They were cel ebrating their school's 50th anniversary with a musical production par excellence. With many others I enjoyed and appreciated the childrens efforts, enthusiasm and natural joy as they performed from the musicals Grease, Hairspray and Mary Poppins with year 7taking a step back in time to nearly 35 years ago with a realistic portrayal of daily life in Gibraltar at that time. Borrowing a song title from Grease, the whole production went like greased lightening, and is an excellent tribute to the hard work of all concerned.

I went back to school to chat to Paul Lyon, present headmaster at the school and asked him how the school had started.

"I took up the appointment of headship in 2002, but the school dates back to 1958 when it was officially opened. It numbers head teach-

"1 was offered my first job by the then Educa tion Officer,Julio Alcantara at St. Mary's Middle School in Johnston's passage at the time under the headship of Dorita Montegriffo. Eventually we moved to the old Grammar School, such a wonderful building where 1 spent the next 16 years as a teacher of Maths and P.E. as well as year coordinator in Sacred Heart Middle School until I moved to the Department of Education as Training Education Advisor. This was brilliant but 1 missed the children and the challenge of working with different teachers so 1 felt 1 would like to try the demands of headship".

And is it demanding? I asked.

"The child has to be at the center of every thing we do, the child is the nucleus and if children can have fun in school it means more than just going through the motions." A far cry from my own strict school days to be sure and 1 liked his philosophy.

He had mentioned Johnny Norton and I made a note to contact him.When 1 did he spoke with affection of his days in BFG.

"It was my first teaching post when I came back from my studies so 1 have a soft spotfor it", he wenton,"it was the very first middle school to have a sports meeting, and", he paused for effect,"our first sportsman of the year was one Clive Beltran, a past pupil, one of the many, who have gone on to greater things." Today, he is the Honourable Clive Beltran, Minister for Education and Mayor of our City. In 1958 he was among the first intake at the then, all boys, and new school.1 got in touch with the Minister who was happy to reminisce and senta message to the school on this happy occasion.

Paul has played many sports,basketball and rugby mostly "though it was often difficult get ting a team together." He numbers volleyball, football, cricket, badminton among his love of sports to which he became"heavily committed" when he arrived here. And these days?

"Now 1 play charity football games,veterans really, and we have played against Liverpool and against an England selection. "We played in front of a full stadium", he tells me eagerly, "and raised £30,000 each game for Research into Childhood Cancer. That's the way I am happy now."

From primitive times, man has taught his children what they needed to know for life. It seems to be an instinct and how to fight and gather food were lessons well learned in order to survive. Have you ever seen a bird teaching its young how to fly and maybe school is the nest from which we all learn to fly? Education is at the heart of our societ)' and I asked Paul, despite this busy and important year, did he have a vision for the school?

"We have an ongoing beautification pro gramme. The walls are being painted white in order for each group to do a mural, that way making the school a bit more colourful. This is an old MOD building from the late 50's and we share the site with Governors Meadow School."

Are you overcrowded?

"It is a densely populated area," he conceded, "and we are always pushing the Minister and Department for improvements. What's been done has been done well, but we cannot afford to be complacent. We have children with learn ing and physical disabilities, who, I am proud to say, took part in the concert and loved it. I'd like to think we are doing as much as we can at present to help them integrate into the com munity when older."

He went on to acknowledge the tremendous supportfrom parents and the good standing the school has in the community as well as having full confidence in the dedicated teachers who are now gearing up for technological changes. This includes starting a school website, new multi media projects, and links to the internet to make lessons more exciting. "We encourage the children to lake ownership of the curriculum, if every child finds success and enjoyment,then we have fulfilled our role".

Taking time out from the demands of head

Vship, Paul has been working on his doctoral thesison Education,proving that we never stop learning. It was a delight to chat to this genial man and 1 can only wish him for the school a happy 50th anniversary.