Wellbeing Way

The Courage to Let Them Learn

I often think back to a moment when a student arrived at school without her hat. It would have been very easy for her parent to turn around, rush home, collect the hat and deliver it to school, ensuring their daughter never had to experience the discomfort of being without it. 

But that isn't what happened. 

Instead, the student received a uniform slip and experienced the consequence of forgetting an essential item. It was a small moment, perhaps even an uncomfortable one, but it was also a powerful learning opportunity. From that day forward, she never forgot her hat. 

It is a simple example, but one that speaks volumes about the importance of allowing students to take responsibility for their choices. Had an adult immediately stepped in to fix the situation, the student may never have felt the need to change their behaviour. Instead, she learnt, remembered and took ownership.  

Sometimes, the most valuable lesson we can give our children is the opportunity to experience a consequence and reflect on it. As parents and teachers, we want our children to feel supported, and our natural instinct is to protect them from disappointment, discomfort or the consequences of a poor decision. However, there is a big distinction between supporting our adolescent and removing every obstacle from their path.

At Mt A, we work hard to establish structures, routines and scaffolds to support students. These are intentionally designed to help them succeed, develop independence, and build the skills they need to navigate challenges. Our role as teachers is to guide, encourage, provide opportunities, and help students.  

But support is a two-way street. Students also have a responsibility to engage with the support provided, follow school expectations, and take ownership when things don’t go to plan.   

This week, the Academic Leadership Team came together to explore McCrindle’s analysis of Generation Alpha and Generation Z. Our conversations focused on understanding the needs, characteristics, and learning experiences of today's students and what this means for us as educators. At the heart of our rich conversations, one key question remained unchanged and continues to guide our work; 

How do we work together to ensure every student is supported, equipped and empowered to become a capable and independent learner?  

Through partnership between school, students and families we can work together to equip our girls with the confidence, resilience and independence skills to navigate those challenges in tricky times.