Brookhill

                                                                     Mr David Murphy

Values Update

Unfortunately, I write this article in a time of ever-increasing uncertainty. With this uncertainty comes a range of emotions; many of these are unwelcome and even harmful. Many of us find ourselves in an even worse place than during the extended lockdown of 2020. Last year, we had the sense of hope that we just had to endure together for a time to reap the rewards of better days ahead; now, as constantly changing restrictions and mandates roll over us, on a seemingly weekly basis, many are struggling to hold onto any sense of hope.

Our community and our values are more important to us than ever before. Amongst the Aitken College values are compassion, kindness, and respect. At this time, I believe we should be focusing on how we express and live these values every day. Compassion, kindness, and respect are the virtues through which we understand that each of us is experiencing the uncertainty we face, uniquely and individually; through these, we learn not to pass judgement on others for the way they experience and react to circumstances, which affect them in ways we may not fully understand. Instead, we learn to live virtuously by showing tolerance and understanding and always seeking to help and build up others.

Philosophy of Stoicism

At assembly this week, I spoke to the Brookhill students about the philosophy of stoicism. I explored the origins of stoicism in classical society and explained how the outlook of the stoic may help some of us in the current situation. Stoicism teaches us to consciously focus on positive and constructive thoughts over negative and destructive ones; the stoic acknowledges the negative thoughts and emotions, but makes a decision to disregard these and give their attention to positive ideas.

Stoicism is not about the ability to endure hardship, as this is something that must be endured regardless; it teaches us that we choose how to endure, and that we must decide to endure constructively. 

To come full circle, these ideas also teach us that we get to choose how we react to and treat others during times of difficulty and here, I know we all choose the Aitken way of compassion, kindness and respect.