From the Principal

Remembrance Day Service – An Opportunity to Learn and Grow

On Monday the 11th of November the entire school was involved in a Remembrance Day service. The Remembrance Day service gave all of us an opportunity for quiet reflection and contemplation. During the service we acknowledged the incredible sacrifice made by the men and women of the armed forces in times of war. It is clear that we live in a world riddled by conflict. The emotions of anger, hate and resentment seem to overwhelm any hope of peaceful resolution to conflict. As Christians, we are reminded of God’s great example of love and compassion through the life of His son Jesus Christ. In 1 John 3:1

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 

When we think about conflict and estrangement, I believe we are called to make a decision about how we want to live our lives. Do we want to be tied down with anger and resentment or do we tap into the “great love the father has lavished on us”?  I know that we live in a complex world of competing interest and it is so easy for us to develop an “I am” mindset.  This is a mindset where our thoughts and decisions are always based on what suits us in the here and now. This mindset is further perpetrated be a society in which individualism is encouraged and promoted. One only has to take a minute or two to access social media sites that promote a somewhat selfish and “I” focused view on the world. This is always of concern to me as both a father of two children, but also as an educator.  The question I often consider is how do we prevent our children getting caught up in the world where individualism is idolised and where social interaction platforms provide a forum where people can spew hatred and anger at each other. For some reason, people seem more likely to make harsh and unfair comments to others when hiding behind a phone or keyboard and is this the world we want our children to consider normal and okay?

This, of course, is not to say that the interaction students have with social media and the internet need always be negative.

In today's interconnected world, students who actively engage with social media and the internet are uniquely positioned to become informed global citizens. Social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, along with collaborative online spaces like Reddit or Wikipedia, offer vast resources for learning about global issues, different cultures and diverse perspectives. According to the Pew Research Center (2021), 81% of American adults say they use the internet to keep up with news and current events, indicating that digital platforms are pivotal in shaping how individuals, including students, engage with the world. By utilising these tools responsibly, students can access real-time information about international issues such as climate change, social justice and political movements, fostering a sense of global responsibility and empathy for others' struggles.

Moreover, the internet allows students to not only consume information but also actively participate in global conversations and movements. By sharing information, raising awareness and advocating for change on platforms like Twitter or TikTok, students can amplify their voices on issues that matter to them. A study by Digital Impact Alliance (2019) highlights how digital tools help young people to engage in social change and activism, emphasising that the internet can democratize participation in civic life. This kind of online engagement helps students develop skills like critical thinking, digital literacy, and cross-cultural communication, all of which are essential in navigating a rapidly changing world. In turn, students can cultivate a sense of responsibility and agency, knowing that their actions, both online and offline, have the potential to influence global issues and contribute to positive social change. In recent times, this has been seen through the human rights movement in the Middle East commonly referred to as the Arab spring. 

It is clear that we have a very real and important responsibility to lead our students in the right direction when using social media and the internet and the educational process helping us do this is very much in place at Lakeside College. As a Lutheran school, our values of compassion, excellence, service and love form the basis of our approach to all of our educational edeavours especially when educating our students to be good global and online citizens. As we are reminded by Luke in chapter 6 verse 35, 

“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” 

I pray that God’s love and grace is always at the heart of our response to issues and that our students carry this message with them throughout their daily lives. 

Robert Tassoni

Principal