From the Deputy Rector
The 2023 school year has started and so has our work to achieve our school vision Hai Whakapakari i Ngā Tamatāne Kia Purapura Tuawhiti | To Develop Educated Men of Outstanding Character. Our school values - Tū Māia | Courage – Ngākau Mahaki | Humility – Te mahi tahi | Industry – Tū Rangatira | Integrity – Tū Whakahī | Pride – Tū Whakaaute | Respect - are an integral part of this vision. Young men who have a sound moral compass and whose decision-making is guided by values and a deep understanding of right and wrong are the type of young men our community and society need for the future.
Kia mate ururoa, kei mate wheke ǀ Fight like a shark, don't give in like an octopus
Dr. Hinemoa Elder explains "When a shark is caught on a fishing line it thrashes around furiously. Often the line breaks and it swims away. When an octopus is caught on a line it goes limp. Our ancestors were people of great principle, who believed in sticking to your values and fighting for what is right." What better use of Tū Māia | Courage than this?
Humans are wired to seek predictability and comfort; we like routine and consistency. Consequently, change creates anxiety. For many young men, the changes that accompany the start of a new school year create some level of anxiety. Moving to a new school, being in new classes, meeting new peers and different teachers, new expectations or increased levels of academic requirements as one progresses through school are all examples of changes that may create a level of apprehension and anxiety. How we discuss these challenges with young men will influence their response; whether they recognise that the challenges in front of them represent an opportunity for growth and development or whether they look to avoid them in the hope that they will go away. Young men's ability to act with Tū Māia | Courage is influenced by the examples around them.
Following the recent extreme weather events, especially Cyclone Gabrielle, we have seen many examples of Tū Māia | Courage in the wider community. From the incredible work of the emergency services - both the professionals and the many thousands of volunteers - who have frequently put their safety at risk to help those affected, to the many everyday heroes who stepped up in incredibly challenging circumstances to support others in their communities, we are surrounded by courageous people. While these examples are in many respects extreme and we would hope that we are not placed in such circumstances, it does say much about humanity that so may willingly rise to the challenge when Tū Māia | Courage is required.
The importance of Tū Māia | Courage is not a new idea, indeed the Stoic philosophers of ancient Greece and Rome believed it was essential for leading a good life. They defined courage as the ability to face danger and endure pain with calmness and without fear. Courage, in their view, was not just a matter of physical bravery, but also of moral courage, which involved doing the right thing in the face of adversity. The Stoics believed that everyone has the capacity for courage and that it can be developed through practice and discipline. By cultivating moral courage, individuals could act in ways that align with their values and principles, and live a life that was true to themselves.
One reason the Stoics believed courage was important is that it enabled individuals to face challenges and difficulties with resilience and fortitude. Life is full of challenges and obstacles, and it is through facing these challenges that we develop strength and resilience. The Stoics believed that by cultivating courage, individuals could face adversity with equanimity and maintain their sense of inner calm and stability even in the most difficult of circumstances.
The Stoics emphasised that courage was important for living a happy and fulfilled life. They believed happiness and fulfillment come from living a life of meaning and purpose, and from cultivating a sense of inner peace and contentment. By cultivating courage, individuals could live a life that was meaningful and purposeful, even in the face of challenge and adversity.
Growth of any kind requires a leap; we need to let go of what is comfortable and familiar to us and be willing to make ourselves uncomfortable by embracing the unfamiliar. As humans, we are not really wired to do this. We have evolved to avoid danger and situations which make us anxious and uncomfortable. Yet, to learn, improve, develop and reach our potential we need to put aside this reflex and show the courage to live with this anxiety.
Do one thing each day that scares you, something that puts you out of your comfort zone, something that stretches the bounds of what is comfortable for you. Doing so might be as simple as signing up for a new sport, joining a choir, donating blood, volunteering to present an assembly book review or giving a speech in class. Through this, we begin to make courage a habit.
Why courage first? We want our young men to make good decisions, to be guided by their moral compass, through their actions to display their understanding of right and wrong, to deliberately seek out opportunities to be challenged and to grow. None of this is possible without Tū Māia | Courage.
