JPGS outlines a desire to provide ‘a high quality learning environment that is disciplined, safe and nurturing’. The text goes on to state that learners should be independent, motivated and aware of a lifelong learning process ‘essential for the student of the expatriate community’. The aims centre on the environment of the learning rather than the results it produces. Moreover, the statement goes on to detail personal qualities it seeks stimulate within the students. The intentions are holistic and balanced as with many international school mission statements which I reviewed. The International School of Kenya for instance aims to ‘prepare students within a culturally diverse community to become informed, independent thinks and responsible world citizens’. While the International School of Caracas is ‘dedicated to intellectual and personal development…in caring and supportive environment’.
An interesting issue at JPGS is the arrival of several teachers from private schools in South Africa. The difference in culture and educational practice is apparent. In order to shed some light on this issue I looked at one of these private school’s mission statements. As an all boys boarding school, Kearsney College points to students coming to the school ‘to learn skills, forge lifelong friendships, acquire wisdom and are guided to become citizens who make a positive impact in our world’. While this could be the statement of any school, the latter part of the statement could provide some understanding of why there are different values among some staff. As the statement describes; ‘When a boy joins the Kearsney family as either a boarder or a day scholar, he inherits the time honoured traditions and principles that have made Kearsney the remarkable school it is today’. Such tradition and pride in a school is developed over years and based on the values of the schools founders in the early 20th century. While it could be said that such a mission at JPGS is not possible due to the transient nature of its students there are certainly elements of Kearsney’s mission that could improve JPGS. Differences and varied experience of staff should be a utilized by an APP so that all parties feel considered and working as part of a team toward the same mission goal.
One could draw parallels to the difference in the latter educational cultures and that of the public and private sector in England. Harrow School and Eton College are two of the most prestigious schools in England. Both Eton and Harrow emphasize their mission for excellence and leadership from their students. Both schools also stress their history, as Eton encourages each ‘Etonian’ to exhibit behaviour synonymous with graduates and Harrow states that it is ‘Conscious of its history, culture and charitable intentions of its Founder…’. These schools are based on history and success which is what the mission statement adheres too.
In the public section, Fred Longworth High School, Wigan looks for each student to ‘experience success and fulfill their potential within a caring and effective environment’. PEMBEC High School, Wigan seeks to ensure that ‘every young person succeeds’. While, being a Church of England School, the Deanery CofE High School, Wigan looks to its students to pursue excellence while respecting others with values that ‘characterised the life of Jesus’.
While the demographics of schools are obviously vastly different one could make several observations through these comparisons. Firstly, schools with tradition and high expectations look to what students can do for the school rather than always considering the reverse. Certainly, when one enters the workplace a company looks to what a worker can do for them before considering the reverse. Therefore, the question I would raise here is do educational mission statements encourage students to consider the ‘real world’ relationships that they will find in the work place? Alternatively, should schools act as a service industry with students as customers? Both missions are appropriate in different circumstances but a balance of the two is valid in all educational institutions. Adjudging how that balance will work is the job of an APP in the formation of a mission statement.
An interesting issue at JPGS is the arrival of several teachers from private schools in South Africa. The difference in culture and educational practice is apparent. In order to shed some light on this issue I looked at one of these private school’s mission statements. As an all boys boarding school, Kearsney College points to students coming to the school ‘to learn skills, forge lifelong friendships, acquire wisdom and are guided to become citizens who make a positive impact in our world’. While this could be the statement of any school, the latter part of the statement could provide some understanding of why there are different values among some staff. As the statement describes; ‘When a boy joins the Kearsney family as either a boarder or a day scholar, he inherits the time honoured traditions and principles that have made Kearsney the remarkable school it is today’. Such tradition and pride in a school is developed over years and based on the values of the schools founders in the early 20th century. While it could be said that such a mission at JPGS is not possible due to the transient nature of its students there are certainly elements of Kearsney’s mission that could improve JPGS. Differences and varied experience of staff should be a utilized by an APP so that all parties feel considered and working as part of a team toward the same mission goal.
One could draw parallels to the difference in the latter educational cultures and that of the public and private sector in England. Harrow School and Eton College are two of the most prestigious schools in England. Both Eton and Harrow emphasize their mission for excellence and leadership from their students. Both schools also stress their history, as Eton encourages each ‘Etonian’ to exhibit behaviour synonymous with graduates and Harrow states that it is ‘Conscious of its history, culture and charitable intentions of its Founder…’. These schools are based on history and success which is what the mission statement adheres too.
In the public section, Fred Longworth High School, Wigan looks for each student to ‘experience success and fulfill their potential within a caring and effective environment’. PEMBEC High School, Wigan seeks to ensure that ‘every young person succeeds’. While, being a Church of England School, the Deanery CofE High School, Wigan looks to its students to pursue excellence while respecting others with values that ‘characterised the life of Jesus’.While the demographics of schools are obviously vastly different one could make several observations through these comparisons. Firstly, schools with tradition and high expectations look to what students can do for the school rather than always considering the reverse. Certainly, when one enters the workplace a company looks to what a worker can do for them before considering the reverse. Therefore, the question I would raise here is do educational mission statements encourage students to consider the ‘real world’ relationships that they will find in the work place? Alternatively, should schools act as a service industry with students as customers? Both missions are appropriate in different circumstances but a balance of the two is valid in all educational institutions. Adjudging how that balance will work is the job of an APP in the formation of a mission statement.
KC develops boys into men. They learn the value of putting the College (others) first above all. I am proud to have taught there and often refer back to my experiences there. The College adopts a "less talk , more action" approach and because of its "less is more philosophy" and because the boys know where they stand the "psycological mumbo jumbo" is often avoided. This leaves them to develop discipline, leadership skills, and social skills which helps them to uphold traditional values of honesty, obedience, integrity and helpfulness, while taking responsibility for their own actions.
ReplyDeletePhil,
ReplyDeleteAs a former JP student of 12 years, I have only one comment to make: Had Andrew Cruickshank still been the Head, there would have been no need for you to create such a post. JP is no longer the educational instutution it used to be.