As an educator, one of the things I often reflect on in my role – and a question I constantly ask myself – is: ‘What are we preparing our boys for?’ Of course, this is a complex question with multiple answers. However, increasingly, I find myself thinking about the importance of developing resilience – emotionally, intellectually, physically, and spiritually.
To be fair, I believe our boys are inherently resilient. In fact, I would argue they are often far more adaptable to change and better equipped to deal with complexity than we, as adults, give them credit for. Too often, we forget that our boys are facing challenges we never had to contend with as children. They are growing up in a world that moves at a million miles an hour, where making sense of it all can feel overwhelming. Their future is rapidly evolving, and this is amplified by the impact of social media, algorithms, and an online world that constantly reinforces speed and complexity. Yet, as we know, much of this is beyond our control.
However, what is within our control is how we intentionally prepare our boys to be resilient. We want them to be adaptable, to grow comfortable with being uncomfortable. We want them to understand that the world isn’t just black and white – that there is a lot of grey, ambiguity, paradox, cognitive dissonance, and contradiction. Navigating this space can be challenging, but how our boys respond to – and cope with – this uncertainty will play a key role in determining whether they are set up for success as confident, positive members of society.
The hard part is that resilience cannot simply be taught. We can’t just give them an equation and say, ‘Solve this, and you’ll become resilient’. They need to experience discomfort, to step out of their comfort zones, to wrestle with ambiguity, uncertainty, and failure. However, they also need to learn that they can bounce back from failure.
I want you to know that we are going to try and push them, challenge them, and encourage them to think critically. In the classroom, I want them to question assumptions, consider diverse perspectives, and engage in meaningful debate. They don’t have to agree with every perspective, but they should learn to listen, understand, and appreciate the diversity of opinions and views in the world.
Through our sports and performing arts programmes, they will hopefully experience tremendous success, joy, and satisfaction. However, I also hope they encounter disappointment, setbacks, and failure, because it is often in these moments that we learn the most about ourselves.
As parents, you play an integral role in this journey. The partnership between home and school is vital in shaping the future of your sons. We encourage you to stay engaged in their education, to celebrate their successes, and to support them through the inevitable challenges they will face.
Thank you for your continued support of this remarkable institution. I am confident that, together, we will make this a year to remember.
Ngā mihi nui.
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