Senior School

Twentieth century psychology professor, Abraham Maslow, discusses the needs of humans, which may be summarised as:

• basic needs (food, water, warmth, rest, security, safety);
• psychological needs (relationships and friends, prestige and feeling of accomplishment); and
• self fulfilment (achieving one’s full potential, including creative activities).

It is interesting to think about COVID and our lockdown experiences through this lens. 

Many people have still been privileged to have most basic needs met, with questionable satisfaction of higher order needs. Lockdown, isolation and lack of traditional means of contact has disturbed our social order significantly, which is felt distinctly by us all. 

Some have found friendships difficult to maintain, while others may enjoy alternate approaches and modified expectations. Some may struggle to find meaning and purpose, with a totally revamped classroom, or removal of opportunities to shine, such as sport, story-telling, or other areas of mastery. For every person, there is a unique story with its individual challenges and lowlights.

The ABC reports, “Provisional internal migration data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows the nation's capital cities had a net loss of 11,200 people during July, August and September last year”. Mental health issues are well documented, although filtering sensationalist versus objective reports can be problematic.

As adults, we can consider how challenging it is for us, and then realise how much more impressionable our young people are. I remember, as a teenager, being terrified that the world would end soon, after reading some apocalyptic material centred on the still raging Cold War. Had discussion with my family been possible, this would have been dismissed as a ridiculous fear. 

The media bombards us with COVID facts regarding sickness, deaths, economic impact, layers of government dissent, vaccination reactions, and other newsworthy stories. The Fourth Estate has regarded this role as its own for a long time, as it sells copies.

It would be great to hear some alternate news, not to underplay the immense difficulties and struggles of every family impacted directly by COVID, but to maintain some sense of balance and combat the fear induced. People need hope for great times ahead, which may possibly be appreciated even more, while COVID memories linger.

Counter cultural news reports may be that 197,088,664 people globally have recovered from COVID. How highly effective vaccines have been quickly developed to prevent or significantly reduce the virus severity. Perhaps a story of how society has adapted to an incredible upheaval in social order, and yet many people are still having most of their basic needs met. Or, that we see people acting more charitably and selflessly than before, and connecting in new ways. Or, that God upheld the world through the terror of the Black Plague in the fourteenth century where The Scientific Method was not yet dreamt of, or through the Smallpox Plague of 1520, the Third Plague of 1855 and the Spanish Flu of 1918-9, all of which had much higher mortality rates than we have experienced. He also looked after His creation through innumerable wars, including the Great War, World War II, and the Cold War.

For people who believe in Science, or precedent, or God, or even all three, there is a great deal to be positive about, despite how gloomy situations may appear.

At the end of the Great Commission, Jesus assures His people, And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. God tells His people in Isaiah 41:10, So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Personally, I have great hope for the future. The world will still need quality doctors, nurses, sales assistants, beauty therapists, mechanics, scientists, lawyers, teachers and other roles, some of which do not even exist yet! The groundwork your children are putting in now, although sometimes appearing futile to them, is laying the foundation for the next chapter of their lives. 

Media news may remain fear-filled and without hope, but we as a team, parents and teachers, can continue to speak truth into the lives of those we are blessed to be responsible for. They matter. They are loved by God. God’s perfect love overcomes fear. They are dear to us. God is faithful and keeps His word. There is hope for the future. We are not the first to deal with a pandemic. This too shall pass. 

God is good, has always been good, and will always be good. 

Greg Barker

Deputy Principal - Head of Senior School