PREADOLESCENT = ENERGY
AND ALTRUISM
(November, 1995, to introduce
Junior School Speech Night finale)
Once upon at time, at Wesley's western
Campus, I taught middle to late teenagers Economics and Geography, English
and History. I also looked after those of them who lived at
the school, in the old Adamson Boarding House.
Those students walked, usually, whenever
they wanted to go somewhere on foot.
Then, I came to teach 9 to 13 year-olds
here in the east, where, in those days, the entire Campus contained only
the Junior School.
Pre-adolescent Junior School students
rarely walk anywhere! They run!
I shall never forget the shock.
Short-trousered, half-sized bodies, dashing in all directions!
Energy!
Pre-adolescents have got it. They
are full of it!
They run it. They jump it.
They climb it. They swim it. They dance it. They skip
it.
They have skipped it so much in our
Junior School, that, in less than ten years, they have raised just a tiny
bit under $50,000 for Australia's National Heart Foundation. And
they are glad to do it! They see the point of working for a good
cause.
You see, with that eager energy goes
open-hearted and open-minded altruism. Goodness and worthiness inspire
them.
So here we see the growing pre-adolescent.
Energetic and idealistic --
just for the sake of it. Willing, and ripely ready, to be part of
the team. To find themselves in the lives of others.
What a huge responsibility for us,
their parents and teachers! Will we make hay whilst this sun
is shining?
Students, teachers and families,
to open 'Energy!' may I please present our brand new Jump Rope For Heart
Demonstration Team, for their very first public performance. |