Insight into our public schools
Taking time to spend a day at a public Wimmera primary school as an independent observer is an eye-opening experience.
It also galvanizes just how important it is for governments, communities and society as a whole to get our education formulas as right as possible.
Being asked to be ‘principal for the day’ at bubbling Horsham Primary School was a privilege.
To venture into a melting pot of emerging young personalities, where dedicated professionals provide stimulating and creative as well as measured direction for burgeoning youngsters, was fascinating.
As principal Chris Walter, who offered the invitation, took time out from a busy schedule to provide insight into the school community and its operations, the process and complexities of providing quality guidance and education became obvious.
What was immediately evident as we ventured from classroom to classroom was the expansive and eclectic mix of unbridled, impressionable and wonderful humanity.
There was colour everywhere, not just on the walls where learning messages, stimulants and children’s work were clearly on display, but in the children themselves and, importantly, their teachers.
Remarkably, within this hubbub, was a sense of direction, purpose and dedication. While you could see the children from a broad demographical mix getting engaged and encouraged, it was also evident they were being carefully managed. Make no mistake. This is a tough gig.
But it is also obviously rewarding and from random observation, the passion and hard-work ethic in Mr Walter’s teaching team born from critical responsibility, was more than apparent.
What was also clear was the year-toyear fragility of how public schools can provide or maintain standards, based on government recognition of circumstances and financing.
Hearing about collective work between public primary schools in Horsham, minus any sense of rivalry, was also encouraging. Regional schools must work together to get the best for everyone in our community.
There are many boxes that need ticking for our public schools to be able to provide everything from solid educational structures to basic health and wellbeing facilities.
Horsham Primary School, through clever juggling and a smart, transparent and no-nonsense approach based on student and staff development and wellbeing, appears to be ticking those boxes.