I HAVE no doubt there are projects, units and activities going on in schools every day that are newsworthy and deserve recognition. To a teacher, it could be simply the routine of the moment, but I have seen what incredible information-soakers children are. Children seem to be biologically programmed to ask questions about anything, to absorb it and process. Even a photographer turning up to school with interesting equipment will always prompt questions. With my two nieces, it never stops. It is a miracle of the young that they are practically human computers, and, while some are slower than others, everyone learns if the environment is there and the conditions are good.
But every so often you get that teacher who gets the great idea, the inspiration, that goes beyond the assessment scores and the curriculum. In that, I'd have to credit St Patrick's School principal Chris Day, whom I encountered in Queen Elizabeth Park last week filming his pupils for a school production film.
I've done photos with children for speech-bubble story books, where you are practically directing children. It's exhausting. Not for the children, though. They're having a ball. Mr Day had about five kids in World War I costume, and he was directing them through a variety of scenes, filming short segments. It meant while working closely with some, he had to have the others waiting for their scene - and hope they'd be patient.
His idea, of creating a Charlie Chaplain-style short film, was a great one, but you tend to forget the logistics that had to go into sorting out transportation, costumes and permission. I can imagine Mr Day's post-production session was probably an enjoyable piece.
Third terms tend to be production time and, when you see your kids on stage, you might not appreciate the hours and hours over and above the literacy and numeracy requirements of the day. It's when you see the theatre, and you see the time put into a great idea, that you appreciate how encompassing our NZ school curriculum is. Two of the "key competencies" are relating to others, and participating and contributing. Schools tackle those every day. It's the things that make parents smile - as I did that morning in QE Park.
