Two Friday’s ago, we celebrated World Teachers’ Day.  It got a bit swamped with all else that was happening here at that time.  I love being a teacher and as I think back on that group of people who made a real difference in my life, a few of those were my teachers.  They made a real difference for me.  The story below is not a new one but, not surprisingly, I really like it. 

Making A Difference

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.  One man, a CEO, decided to reveal the problem with education.  He argued, ‘What’s a kid going to learn from someone who decided that his best option in life was to become a school teacher?’

He reminded the other dinner guests what’s often said about teachers: ‘Those who can, do.  Those who can’t, teach.’  To stress his point he said to another guest, ‘You’re a teacher, Susan.  Be honest.  What do you make?’

Susan, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, ‘You want to know what I make?  I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.  I make a C+ feel like the winner of the country’s highest honour.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study in absolute silence.  You want to know what I make?  I made kids wonder.  I make them question.  I make them criticise.  I make them apologise and mean it.

I make them write.  I make them read, read, read.  I make them do their best in maths and perfect their final drafts in English.

I make them understand that if you have the brains, and follow your heart, and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you must pay no attention because they just didn’t learn.’

Susan paused and then continued.  ‘You want to know what I make?’  I make a difference.  What do you make?’

Really sad – again.  Last Wednesday, Ryan Hickling (Walsh Snr 2022) died in a vehicle accident on the Bundaberg – Childers road.  Ryan was a really nice young man at Shalom and we are devastated to hear that news for his family.  Also recently, Mr Ian Seaby passed away.  Ian was a long time and early member of the Shalom staff.

Yr 7 Orientation Afternoon is on Tuesday afternoon.  We are looking to welcome 276 current Year 6 students who will join us next year.  Enrolments for all grades next year are very tight.  This term, we have welcomed 21 new students to Shalom.

Mr Dan McMahon
Principal
mcmahond@shalomcollege.com