Principal
Nearly 15 years ago, I purchased a book entitled ‘The Courage to Teach’ which was written by an American educator, Parker J Palmer. It was first written late in the 1990s and it was a 10th anniversary edition that I had bought. It is a book that has influenced many teachers over many years in many countries. For a long time, it has been the foundation of teacher professional development in innumerable workshops and courses. In my view, one of the reasons for its longevity is how Palmer so clearly articulates the place of the heart in the work of good teachers.
‘Good teaching cannot be reduced to technique but is rooted in the identity and integrity of the teacher. Good teaching takes myriad forms but good teachers share one trait: they are authentically present in the classroom, deeply connected with their students and their subject. These connections are held in the teacher’s heart - the place where intellect, emotion, and spirit converge in the human self.’
I share these thoughts with you during a week in which we celebrate World Teachers Day. Around that state this will be on Friday 29 October. With the Ekka public holiday now falling this Friday, school communities in the Brisbane, Moreton Bay and Scenic Rim local government areas have been encouraged to celebrate the day locally on Thursday 28 October 2021.
At Nudgee College, we are fortunate to have access to extensive resources on a campus that is unmatched for its openness and space. While these are important, they are not as important as the teachers who bring the hearts and minds of our boys alive. It is their professional skill and expertise as well as their care, passion and compassion that helps to make the school what it is. They are the good teachers that Palmer describes.
It is reassuring to know that our teachers are appreciated by our community and this has been clearly evidenced in recent years.
In the 2018 EREA survey of ‘Why Parents choose a School’, the quality of our teachers was identified as one of the leading reasons why our parents choose to send their sons to Nudgee College. Earlier this year, the EREA School Renewal process included a survey of 1,400 of our students from Year 7 to 12. The review panel made the following comment in the final report:
Through the Charter survey, students indicate that they feel very supported by their teachers in their learning experiences. They describe their teachers as relational, helpful and encouraging. Students appreciate the commitment of teachers and value their subject and curriculum knowledge. Students indicate that they are inspired by their lessons because they are appropriately challenging …
Further to this feedback, in the past week, I received a very affirming letter from one of our parent in which they commented:
I also want to take the opportunity to thank you and each and every member of the Nudgee College teaching community for the excellence in education they have provided for our two sons who have completed their education at Nudgee … and continue to provide for our youngest son … For all our sons the educators at Nudgee have instilled a love of learning and a will to strive for excellence and fair play in whatever they choose to do.
Finally, in acknowledging teachers at Nudgee College it is appropriate to celebrate the work of all teachers. By and large teachers are selfless individuals who do not seek attention for the good work that they do. So WTD is an opportunity to shine a light on the contribution that they make in the lives of the young people that they teach. This is articulated in this Video message from the Executive Director of the Queensland Catholic Education Commission Dr Leanne Perry.
Mr Peter Fullagar
Principal
