From the Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School
World Teachers' Day is being celebrated in Australia today. The day provides a great opportunity to recognise and appreciate teachers and the important role they play in shaping the lives of the young people entrusted to our care.
The focus of World Teachers’ Day in 2019 is on the bright future of the profession, including beginning teachers starting their career. The College Facebook page presents a brief profile highlighting a number of the teachers at St Greg’s in their first five years of service.
As a College community, all students have been provided with the opportunity to acknowledge one or more of their teachers with a small written card. The community Mass on Friday morning was another time when we have focused on the great work and contributions of the teachers of St Gregory’s College.
These days, much is said and written about the teaching profession. Some of this is affirming, but often it is critical. For the most part, the focus of the media attention is on the single outcome of academic results. Whilst there is no question that a critical role of the teacher is to assist students to achieve their personal best possible academic results and also to become even better learners, there is often not sufficient attention given to the many other significant influences of teachers.
There are many challenges for teachers. Apart from the work in preparing and delivering lessons, there is the significant time commitment to marking work and providing feedback to students. There is so much that needs to go on outside of the classroom to ensure that students ae provided with great learning opportunities. But, we also know that the work for teachers extends well beyond the confines of the classroom.
Possibly because it is more difficult to measure in a quantifiable way, there does not seem to be proper recognition given to the important and critical role that teachers play in getting to know and understand young people and the significant part they play in providing great care and concern for their wellbeing, growth and development. Too often, the role of the teacher is considered within the narrow confines of the classroom, when so many teachers give so generously of their time outside of the classroom in a range of ways to support the interests and talents of the students.
On the occasion of World Teacher’s Day 2019, I acknowledge the many fine teachers at St Gregory’s College for their great care and commitment of your sons and daughters. We are indeed fortunate to be blessed with a wonderful teaching staff who make the extra effort to support the students in some many ways with their learning in the classroom and also through their extensive commitment in so many ways beyond the classroom. We seek God’s blessings on their continuing critical role in shaping the lives of our young people.
I finish by providing three quotes that sum up my intended message about the reasons to celebrate the great many teachers who for short periods of time or much longer have dedicated themselves to making a difference to the lives of others.
They will not care how much you know, until they know how much you care.
Aristotle
They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.
Anonymous
Sometimes it is the people no one imagines anything of,
who do the things that no one can imagine.
Movie: The Imitation Game (Alan Turing)
Best wishes,
Mr Paul Brooks
College Deputy Principal / Head of Senior School