The Future of Athlone High

We have the template for success! Our motto, vision, mission statement, colours and anthem are among the best in the world. A school’s brand is really everything and we need to stay rooted to the various components of our brand as they were formulated at our inception. My appeal to all our stakeholders is to stay true to the significance of the Athlone High brand and to contextualize it into our future plans.

Discipline is at the heart of academic success. No institution will achieve success without discipline. We need to remember the Biblical injunction that “The student is not above the teacher.” At Athlone we should always espouse disciplinary values including respect. It may be the prerogative of certain parents to indulge their children but those indulgence consequences won’t meet the approval of teachers. Recalcitrant students’ behaviour must be severely dealt with. At Athlone we need to produce good citizens who will work hard in their future places of employment, displaying courtesy to all and sundry.

I am borrowing from the TLSA philosophy where education is about “The holistic development of the child, embracing values, culture, intellectual and academic advancement or, more broadly speaking, the rational and imaginative virtues of education.” The role of the conscientious teacher according to the TLSA would be to broaden the horizons of the students and instill in them values such as respect and compassion. Holistic development was interestingly also very much SV’s approach and this year, in keeping with his belief, we have re-introduced song, music, art, drama and dance. We wish that Athlone is a noble and aesthetic school and we have a dream to explore amongst other disciplines, archery and classical ballet.

I agree with the TLSA teachers that children should receive a political education that is leftist and pro-poor. To quote the words of George Orwell: “It is not possible for any thinking person to live in such a society as our own without wanting to change it.” As we reflect on our vision and the purpose of education, we need to re-read books such as Pedagogy of the Oppressed and Education, economy and society. We can also emulate the best practices of countries that have placed education at the centre of their development. These countries include Cuba, Finland and Palestine. Cubans can teach us lots about solidarity. We also need to uphold the belief that there is one race which is the human race.

“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.” Profound words indeed from Rabindranath Tagore the Indian poet. Spirituality, closely linked to servanthood and drawing on the finest traditions of our faiths, will be one of our guiding principles in creating a great future at Athlone.

The TLSA’s motto of “Let us live for our Children” should receive prominence in school life along with our own motto. I am also reminded of Christ’s purpose on earth: “The son of man came not to be served but to serve.” So in my coup de grace, let us emulate Christ’s life of servanthood and also emulate the lives of great political leaders and educationists who were servants of the people. In so doing we will ensure that our motto, Nihil Sed Optimus becomes a reality forever. Viva Athlone High! A Luta Continua!