From the Principal

Dear Friends,

Following a most successful Open Day for the College, it is a pleasure to thank our community for involvement in the event. We appreciated deeply the involvement of students as ambassadors for the College, and in demonstrations of learning. Thank you to parents who attended the day that also contributed a great ambience to the day. We had a very good attendance and interest in Oxley despite the light rain. We were able to showcase our new Junior School buildings that provide a good indication of the quality of the next building phase. 

Sometime next week we can expect to know the outcome of the federal election. Political rhetoric often leaves me wondering what is true and what isn’t, or whether any truth is even relevant in modern elections. I am sure Pontious Pilate was not the first to ask, ‘What is truth?’ as he interrogated Christ from his own background in the traditions of the early western philosophers. The question continues to engage us today, particularly as some modern leaders appear to twist factual accounts of history to suit their purposes or justify their invasion of neighbouring countries. And others believe the question is one that should not even exist, apparently having no relevance to us any longer. Indeed, why should we care about having a serious discussion about understanding truth? Why should we distinguish between truth and consensus? After all, it is one of the values of Oxley Christian College, to focus on whatever is true, good, and beautiful.

These questions are critically important and especially to schools with the task of education. We believe we have an obligation to knowing and being truthful as part of the Christian tradition. Schooling always occurs within faith or cultural commitments, and consequently, there is no neutral or pure form of education. Therefore, every form of education shapes us and the ways in which we ourselves will go on to influence others. In addition, we believe that education should prepare us for any version of the future and make us capable and compassionate participants in the world. In this it is crucial for us to have confidence in our Christian values, especially those who are concerned with truth, goodness, and beauty. 

In our expectation of religious freedom being on the table again under a new parliament, our hope is that our Australian community will not be held back from hearing and responding to truth as it is faithfully presented in the Christian gospel. In John’s gospel (18:37), Christ’s witness to Pilate was unequivocal. If only we could still hear it, rather than ‘living by lies’ as Alexander Solzhenitsyn so compellingly describes. 

We lie to preserve our peace of mind. … On any given day, any one of us, … will be confronted with at least one of the above choices. Either truth or falsehood: towards spiritual independence or towards spiritual servitude.

Warm regards

Dr Douglas Peck