I know that you and I are very concerned about the events which are unfolding in Ukraine. Some would ask why this is happening, what are Russia’s motives and why should we be concerned? I was born at a time which coincided with the height of what we have come to know in history as the Cold War. The war between east and west which developed following the cessation of World War 2. The allies and the Russians having liberated countries from the tyranny of Adolf Hitler were presented with a demarcation of who occupied which territory in Europe. Hence the terms East and West referring to the former USSR and Eastern bloc countries and the USA and western bloc countries. Countries that would exist as democracies and countries which would be under communist rule. The Cold War also created a terror of a nuclear arms race with nuclear weapons on both sides aimed at East or West. Much has happened since the height of the Cold War in 1960s, in fact, the world has matured with societies/countries able to determine their destiny. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was formed in 1917 and Ukraine was one of the founding states of the USSR. Ukraine gained its independence in 1991 following the dissolution of the USSR.
After two weeks we can welcome back all students on campus next Monday to the relief of parents, students and staff. Whilst we have been very lucky with the limited exposure to online learning compared to the experiences in Victoria and NSW, online learning has provided many challenges. As a school, I am very proud of the outstanding efforts of the teaching staff to make online learning as effective and productive as possible. Students have also responded well to the challenge. However, nothing replaces the face to face contact a teacher has with students. To be present and to connect is as important for our own wellbeing. We have come to realise that with presence, our other senses are important in picking up energy, non-verbals such as body language, eye contact and that special sense which is difficult when you are online.
Over the last week or so, the events of our times have finally gotten the better of me. I think I have always been a person with reasonable emotional intelligence and awareness. However, I have grown up in a lifetime where showing your emotions is seen as a form of weakness. In my 40+ years of service in the Army, I have always been aware that as an officer and leader you must always show strength, be calm and decisive, your soldiers depend on you and you need to demonstrate hope and strength. Do not ever let your guard down. It is true that as a male this is still very much part of our psyche, you must not show your emotion or cry as some believe this shows vulnerability and is not setting a good example...
This past week has been a very interesting time with much of the media and world attention focussed on the US presidential election. I remember as a young boy in primary school learning all about the 50 states of America and their capital cities – I had to recite them from memory. Last week as I was watching the map of America on Fox News, with a sea of red and blue representing either Republican or Democrat states, it brought back memories of my childhood and questions about why was I learning this at school – American geography, really? Nonetheless, I was glued to the television watching the count and wondering what was going to happen. The US President is known as the leader of the free world and everyone across the globe is interested in this outcome. It will determine how the next four years will unfold. 2020 will be remembered in history as the year of the COVID-19 global pandemic but will also be known for the US presidential election. What I have witnessed is most disturbing as we see democracy challenged and people fundamentally divided. What we see is the divide of Team Trump and the Democrats, which has resulted in hate, violence, and a deep division in the psyche of the American people. We have also witnessed very poor leadership on the part of Team Trump. There is every right to bring matters to court regarding questions of the integrity of the voting process, but another to incite a narrative of fraud, a stolen election and being rigged. It is about every vote being counted.
Dr Paul Rijken, Principal of Cardijn College and Marcellin Technical College, has been officially recognised for his dedication to education and professional learning in the 2017 John Laing Awards for Professional Development, managed by Principals Australia Institute.