Assistant Principal (Secondary)

Chilli Eating Competition

In Term 2, I was honoured to be asked to speak in Chapel. I illustrated my point by getting some students to eat some hot chilli. I had two different types of hot foods, the first; Taki’s blue chips. They were the hottest chip I could find. However, the second was much hotter, it was a type of hot sauce that was titled ‘death’ and was packaged in a coffin. This hot sauce was much hotter than the chips. However, what we seem to find is that people use the word ‘hot’ to describe food that is vastly different in term of its ‘hotness’.

What is considered ‘hot’ is often subjective. I know my father is not at all a fan of chilli, he would describe normal black pepper as ‘hot’. However, others may eat death sauce and feel that it is only mild. In 1912 a scientist invented the Scoville scale, an objective measure of the spiciness of food. As an example, a Jalapeno pepper is approximately 2500-5000 Scoville units of hotness. This gives an objective reference point to compare different chillis. This, however, doesn’t take into account a person’s experience of heat. One person may be able to eat a jalapeno and not find it too spicy, however, another person may eat the same chilli and find it way too hot. This experience is similar to students when we ask them ‘how hard are you working?’

Many students often tell us that they are ‘working hard’, however, just like a chilli without a Scoville scale is subjective; so to is working ‘hard’ without a reference point. VCE is geared towards students who diligently work. The ability to work hard is actually a skill that can be taught and refined. It is often said that we need to work smarter, not harder. While this is true to an extent, I believe that both are better, ‘smart’ and ‘hard’. Parents and teachers often model and set the reference as to what working hard and smart actually is.  

As we come towards the end of term 3, this ability to work hard for the final few weeks of class, is especially important for our Year 12 students. They are finishing their classes and starting to study for their final exams. It is important that they diligently work towards their personal best. It’s a balancing act between being a little stressed/anxious (which is generally a good sign), compared with being either too lax or too stressed. As a school staff, the Year 12 teachers are eager to help them through this time (as I’m sure parents are as well).  I hope they realise that they are not doing these final weeks alone - there are plenty of people willing to help.

I wish our current year 12’s the best of luck for this time. My prayers and thoughts are with them.

Mr Chris Graham

Assistant Principal (Secondary)