Headmaster's

Message

A Life Priority

A long time ago on a coastal plain not far from the Blue Mountains two teachers brought a son into the world. That son is my eldest child, turning thirty this year. When my wife and I discussed who should care for him in the early part of his life, we elected that I would take unpaid Paternity Leave, rather than she interrupt her career. Apparently, this was a little too progressive for the NSW Department of Education. Despite federal legislation being passed some years earlier that entitled families to make this choice, no-one had yet tested the legislation with the Department, so I became the first. After my application was initially rejected, I suggested to the Department that I might test their right to deny my application and, without having to act any further, a few weeks later my leave was approved. 

I fought for this right primarily because, as a partner of a very capable professional, I knew that women have difficulty enough building a career for themselves and didn’t need an early interruption to make it even harder. My secondary reason however, was a matter of principle. I will always stand against illegal, unjust, unfair or irrational decisions or practices and unfortunately, women commonly have to face a few more of these than their male counterparts.

Fast forward a few years and I am a father of five beautiful adult children. My eldest is my only boy, making me a father of four girls. Each of them are now living successful, independent lives with all the options the world could offer open before them. As they grew up, I did not treat my children differently. I would hug and kiss them all. I would encourage them all to dream big, plan big, work hard, overcome obstacles and aspire to whatever vision rose in their heart. I want the very best for my son and my daughters alike and consider them equally capable, but in different ways; ways completely unrelated to their gender, but due to who they are as people and whether or not I dropped them on their head when they were babies (apologies to my boy). I would never limit them or put any barriers in their way … the world is their oyster and I am their biggest cheerleader! 

Why do I recount these two personal anecdotes? Frankly, because a very honest Grammar parent advised me to. I recently met with this parent to discuss, at length, comments she understood that I had made; comments she considered sexist, a term that, until recently, I had never thought would be applied to me. We had a very vigorous discussion that wasn’t always comfortable, at least for me. Throughout our conversation, I watched as her anger subsided and was replaced by the warmth by which, I imagine, she is usually characterised. By the end of our conversation she assured me that she no longer considers me sexist. 

In my home and at every school in which I have served, I have remained committed to eradicating any circumstance where girls experience discrimination. At this school, I will continue to apply the same principles to my leadership as I did to the raising of my children. I will not treat a girl any differently from a boy (or a student who prefers not to associate with either gender). I will encourage them all to dream big, plan big, work hard, overcome obstacles and aspire to whatever vision rises in their heart. I want the very best for all Grammar students and consider them all equally capable, but in different ways; ways completely unrelated to their gender, but due to who they are as people. I would never limit them or put any barriers in their way … the world is their oyster and I will be their biggest cheerleader! And, of course, I promise not to drop any of them on their head!

Mr Ian Maynard

Headmaster