FROM THE HEADMASTER
What is important in life and what really motivates us?
I was fascinated to read research in Daniel
Pink’s highly rated book Drive regarding a
study that investigated whether monetary
reward would impact on people’s motivation
to be involved in donating blood. Three
different research groups were created: the
first group were offered a $50 monetary
reward, which they could keep, for donating
blood; the second were also offered the
$50 reward, however they could choose
to donate the money to a charity of their
choice; the third group were offered no
monetary reward at all. In what many may
consider a surprise result, the percentage of
donors who went through with the donation
was dramatically less for the first group. In
both of the other groups the results were
very close, with a much higher percentage
choosing to donate.
Pink surmises that by offering money for the
donation it somehow tainted the inherent
generosity of spirit involved in the personal
giving and the intrinsic feeling of offering
value without a focus on personal gain. He
goes on to state that what really motivates us
has much more to do with finding purpose
and meaning in our lives and in our work.
There is something in our human condition
that drives each of us to seek connection
and community and to want to contribute to
something bigger than ourselves. For some
this will be particularly lived out in our family
relationships or through our contribution
to our local communities, through sporting
clubs, associations and in our work-life.
Others will go on to seek opportunities
to contribute on a wider scale through
involvement in national or international
projects. I am often inspired by news of the
career paths and achievements of our Old
Guidfordians and the amazing contributions
they make across the globe.
The students in our School community are
no different; they are just at different stages
of their development and understanding
in regards to the nature of true service
and giving and how important it is to
look beyond our own needs. It is for this
reason that a Service Learning program is
of significant importance in the life of any
school. Service learning by its very nature
provides structured opportunities for students
to learn about service to the community
through the academic curriculum as well
as through co-curricular activities, with a
focus on developing skills in a range of areas
including leadership.
In this edition of the Forward you will find
highlighted a number of Service Learning
initiatives that currently occur across the
School, including a range of activities
undertaken by each of the Senior School
Houses. The appointment of Mrs Selinna
Forward to the dedicated position of Service
Learning Coordinator has enabled a clear
framework and guidelines to be developed
that will enable us to structure and
coordinate a clear and documented program
across the School as well as the evaluation
and implementation of new opportunities
into the future.
This program directly links to our purpose
statement ‘inspiring students to achieve
personal excellence and to be outstanding
citizens who work to create a just, loving and
peaceful society’. Inherent in this is the strong
belief that we have responsibility for not only
sparking the flame that leads students to
aim for their best performance in all areas,
but that we must also provide them with
key opportunities to learn about themselves,
their place in the world and how they can
use their gifts for the benefit of the broader
community and society in general. If we do
this then, true to Daniel Pink’s elucidation,
we will have assisted them to find their drive,
motivation and purpose, and ultimately a
sense of deep well-being and inner peace. A
lofty goal and unachievable you may suggest.
This only makes it more important to aim for.
Mr Stephen Webber
Headmaster
Rev’d Dr Philip Raymont, Archbishop Roger Herft, His Excellency Malcolm McCusker AC CVO QC, Governor of Western Australia,
Minister John Day, Mr Michael Abbott, Mr Stephen Webber.
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