Former United States president Barack Obama delivered a lecture in South Africa this year in honour of Nelson Mandela, which holds significant lessons for us as educators and parents. His speech often turned to the competing narratives of hope and fear. These narratives permeate our daily lives and we are bombarded by talk that seems to reject the concept of objective truth. To counter the noisy and muddled messages of the media and social media for our girls, it becomes even more important to pay attention to a foundational education built on strong and sound values and principles.

I believe that Barack Obama’s words support our vision of education for the girls at St Mary’s School.

“Let me tell you what I believe,” he said. “I believe in a vision of equality and justice and freedom and multi-racial democracy, built on the premise that all people are created equal, and they’re endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights. And I believe that a world governed by such principles is possible and that it can achieve more peace and more cooperation in pursuit of a common good. That’s what I believe.”

This message is echoed in our school’s values of love, community and integrity, and it is a message of hope which we should emphasise for our children.

Deanne King

Head of School