Great Scot - The Scotch Family Magazine - Issue 151 September 2017 GreatScot_Internal_Sept_2017_FA | Page 14

Junior School
MR JON ABBOTT
HEAD OF JUNIOR
SCHOOL
L-R: TEJ VERMA, SHRAY SAHNI, ALVIS CHAU, TOM WILSON, LEWIS WILKES
Learning to make a difference
Over recent times I have read a number of
articles and media stories that have discussed
how much the current younger generations are
engaged in making a contribution to society.
In particular, the groups of people labelled as
‘Gen Y’ and ‘Millennials’, once viewed as selfish
and lazy, are now being considered much more
favourably for their strong social conscience. They
are far more likely than previous generations to
make important decisions based on a sense of
social responsibility than personal gain. They are
also far more likely to be involved in activities that
have a social justice aim. They make purchases
based on how and where products are made
and sourced, and would prefer to pay more for
a product if they feel that it is sourced from an
eco-conscious, socially responsible manufacturer.
I think these are all admirable traits in our
younger generations, and ones that are worthy of
encouraging and developing. Certainly our world
is going to need the next few generations to make
better choices than their predecessors have done.
The question is, then, how does a school
contribute to developing such attitudes and values
in children? I don’t believe that we should be telling
people, even young people, how they should
think or what they should be passionate about.
However, I do believe that we have an obligation
to allow them opportunity to consider the
consequences and implications of their decisions,
both locally and globally.
In the Junior School there are many different
ways that we provide opportunities for the boys
to become aware of how their choices can have
12
an impact on their immediate and wider world.
Whether it be in their personal interactions,
their awareness of how they impact on the
environment, how they can make a difference
in the lives of others or how they can live a more
sustainable lifestyle, there are terrific opportunities
for us to allow the boys to understand how even a
small change can have an impact.
We have many different activities and programs
in place that assist in developing our boys’ social,
environmental and societal understandings and
attitudes. Our Year 3 boys have a significant
environmental program that sees them visit the
Healesville campus numerous times throughout
the year to study the natural environment, to
consider the impact that people can have on it,
and how we can minimise that impact or possibly
even reverse it.
Our senior boys are involved in Buddies
programs, where they support and mentor
younger students. We also have the Big Friendly
Guys (BFG) program, in which a group of Year
6 boys roster themselves to provide support for
the Prep to Year 2 boys during their recesses and
lunchtimes, guiding their games, making sure
they are all involved, and helping them with any
difficulties or challenges in the playground. Year 6
boys all have a service duty as part of their weekly
routines as well.
The Peer Support Program provides
opportunity for our Year 6 boys to take a
leadership role in supporting and mentoring
younger boys within their House groups. Social
skills, personal skill building and values education
done via a peer network allow the boys to take
on a greater level of responsibility for the personal
development of younger boys.
In the Junior School there is a very strong
Social Service program. Boys volunteer to be part
of the Social Service team that considers ways
we can support different charities, events and
segments of our community through fundraisers
and other initiatives. This has included raising
funds each year for the Royal Children’s Hospital
Good Friday Appeal, Chitulika, juvenile diabetes,
various cancer institutes and our annual gift
giving to Anglicare, where the boys bring along a
Christmas gift for a less fortunate child in another
part of our community who would be unlikely
to receive any gifts. Activities such as Chapel
services and our regular assemblies also provide
opportunities to develop the theme of service to
others.
During my time here in the Junior School it
has become evident to me that young boys really
do want to have an opportunity to be leaders in
their own community, and to be able to make a
difference. As a school it is incumbent on us to
provide them with that opportunity and to nurture
the development of their social conscience.
It is not for us to tell our boys what to believe
or support, but we do have a duty to open their
minds to consider how they might impact the
world.
Great Scot Number 151 – September 2017