Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away.
It is generally accepted in the school that my study is blessed with having the best view. My study looks out over the Senior School front lawn and onto the Seine with its tree clad banks – by any measure a fantastic aspect. It is a view that inspired not only the impressionists but also Bizet (who wrote Carmen just upriver from here) and Debussy who hailed from St. Germain-en-Laye just down river. As I look from my desk I can see the river, filled with the rain that has fallen during this damp February, it is flowing very quickly and its brown suggesting a degree of turbulence. It is climbing ever higher up the bank but remains off the flood zone, so I’m pleased that we are a distance from seeing the school grounds flooded for the third time in a decade.
This week we have returned to school, and we have thrown ourselves into a fast-flowing torrent of lessons, events, activities, and trips. The pace from now until the end of term will be swift. It is vital that our pupils take advantage of all that is on offer, avoid being swept away by the current. In the coming five weeks there will be much to enjoy but it is very likely that we will see, particularly towards the end of the half term, some fatigue. It is always difficult to explain to young people that they are not invincible, and that they need to take time to rest; getting a good night’s sleep is not an optional extra but is an essential component of learning.
Our young people are rushed through life at an extraordinary pace. They are bombarded with ideas, images and pressure is ever present. Unless they are careful their life is lived through a phone and that is far from an ideal reality. There is a debate going on in the UK, as has been the case in France, about access to phones during the school day. Most UK schools share our view that as long as phones are off and unseen during the school day then we have no need to ban. Indeed, the self-control required to not pull out a phone provides the opportunity for our pupils to build trust, nurture self-control, demonstrate integrity, and gives space to interact in a face-to-face environment. The president of the UK headteachers’ council ASCL, Geoff Barton described recent UK Government policy as a non-policy for a non-issue. Our policy regarding mobile phones will not change – we know they can be a valuable tool and we appreciate they can be addictive and destructive. If they are away during the day all is good. If we see them, they are likely to be confiscated until the end of the day.
This term will pass along at a remarkable pace, it is important that our young people are able to gain the most from it. If proof were needed of our pupils’ willingness to separate themselves from screens, then the Senior School’s performance of Annie Jr provides the reassurance required. I am sure they will be duly applauded for all that they have achieved. They deserve it.
Nicholas Hammond
Headmaster
