At our end of year prize giving we celebrate the boys’ achievements. Our leavers (Year 8s) are individually acknowledged. On these occasions, I am particularly conscious of personal best performances. In schools and in life in general, our top achievers are often in the spot light. Recognising this is important as we want people to excel in their area of passion.

However, society’s aim must be to keep all children in schools achieving their personal best and this is the challenge. To do this teachers and parents have to ensure that they connect with the individual on a regular and real level where there is integrity in the relationship. Individual goal setting is crucial in this process. It may be an academic, social, cultural or sporting goal(s). Follow up guidance, structure and encouragement exponentially enhances the likelihood of success. Children need to have moments when they are made to feel special and their efforts are celebrated. A public or private ‘well done’ goes a long way. It is the quality of the teacher-child connection that makes the difference and helps the self esteem to grow. Mutual respect and rapport have to exist for this to happen. It is certainly not about praising mediocrity.

As we know as adults, nothing worthwhile comes without a level of 'graft'. We all know that feeling of satisfaction when after a degree of struggle we attain our goal. It is in that struggle where we ‘grow’ the most. Life can be tough and if we help our children to help themselves, then we are doing them a big favour. The hard thing is to know when to step in and when to insist on more effort. The attitude and value of persistence and the development of resilience in children sets them up for success. I like the saying, “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, I’ll try again tomorrow.”

Working together teachers and parents are able to establish a powerful ‘can do’ culture in schools. As Outward Bound’s founder Kurt Hahn said, “We are all better than we know.” Our job as teachers and parents is to engender the spirit and confidence in children to step up and out of their comfort zone. What I love seeing in teachers is an enthusiasm for life and fun, and a desire to provide the conditions that foster creativity and individual excellence.

Warren Owen
Principal
Wellesley College
Days Bay
Wellington

(Y1-8 Independent Primary School for Boys)

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