Invicta Vlogs
I am not an avid viewer of the TV programmes: X Factor, Strictly Come Dancing and I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
I am not an avid viewer of the TV programmes: X Factor, Strictly Come Dancing and I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! However, this week, it has occurred to me that we have witnessed a number of celebrities being really very different in their approach to one another. When watching ‘the jungle’ I was shocked at how vindictive some of the contestants were. Then, in sharp contrast, in ‘Strictly’, we could see how supportive the dancers were of each other. Yet, in X Factor, the participants were somewhere in the middle. It is difficult to avoid this sort of television and as such, our youngsters observe behaviours that are not always the most desirable. I therefore advocate that it is really important for both parents and schools to ensure that our children and young adults are encouraged to ‘see through’ some of the poor and unacceptable conduct that is promoted in the media. On the contrary, we must use it as a way of highlighting the need for us all to consider the thoughts and feelings of those people around us – no matter what the situation. The need for empathy and understanding is crucial in all aspects of our life.
Our PSHEE and assembly programme aims to promote the fundamental values of trust, care and support. Over the last few weeks, our students will have discussed the key concepts of: tolerance, respect, neighbourliness and excuses. These are all essential topics for us to understand if we are to live and work in a safe, happy and fulfilling environment. I was therefore thrilled this week to see evidence of this in several of our school events. Not only were our students supportive of each other as they raced competitively in the District Cross Country Championships, they were equally there for one another in the Senior Maths Challenge, the National Debating Competition and the Kent Cooks’ Competition. In all of these events, girls demonstrated their ability to empathise and appreciate the demands that were being placed upon each individual. They were positive and encouraging in their approach – they were not negative or derogatory. So much so, that as individuals and teams they had huge successes – Year 7 and 8/9 achieving 1st place in the cross country for example. This, along with Izzy Lee and Erin Payne who, out of 180 entries made it into the final six in the Secondary School category of the Kent Cooks’ Final. They were actually competing against one another for the entire competition. But, throughout it all, they were encouraging one another to do well – the complete opposite of some of the events we have viewed on the television this week. Education is not just about the academia; it is about learning to care for one another, trust those who we live and work with and most importantly, being kind and supportive of those around us – finding ways to understand and accept that we are all different. I shall therefore, look forward this week, to further developing this ethos as we explore ‘optimism’ as our theme of the week!
In my opinion, we feel much better when we are optimistic and I therefore advocate that we see more of this on the television and all around. That certainly is one of my aims at Invicta.
