From Hornby to Hogwarts

Last week I had the pleasure of taking a small group of Year 7 students to the "Be Inspired" workshop hosted by Christ's College. This was the second year that I've taken students to this annual event and there are a few observations I feel are worth noting about our kids.

• Hornby kids are as happy to believe in make-believe as any kids. In the van on the way to Christ's College I told the students that last year we were lucky enough to see a group of "College" kids practicing for a game of quidditch. There was momentary silence in the van until one brave soul asked "For real, Mister?", to which I replied (deadpan) "For real. I can show you the photo when we get back to school". No-one has called me on it so far, so it's officially true.

Hornby Year 7 Students at Christ's College

• Despite their bravado, Hornby kids lack self confidence. A few of the kids who came with me were brimming with self confidence on the way to the event - after all, I had just told them that they were selected by their teachers as being our future leaders. However when surrounded by their peers from the "posh" schools (their words not mine) most of them crumbled. Seems it's fine to compete against the "posh schools" on the sports field, but something again to be accepted as their equals in a non-competitive environment.

• Respect is a value well practiced by Hornby students. Our students showed our core value of respect to their peers and the presenters at the workshop, and were a tribute to the school. I was very proud to see their acceptance of students who were different to them. They are also supportive of each other in a way you normally only see amongst siblings.

• Hornby kids are inquisitive about the world beyond theirs. Despite the vast differences between their reality and that of the students at Christ's College, they were quick to ask me and Christ's College students about the world of relative privilege of private school students. There was no jealousy, no judgement, and no awkwardness. Just questions about unfamiliar realities so that they could expand their understanding of a world that was beginning to expand for them.

• Hornby kids place too much value on money. Some of the students asked me if I would like to teach at Christ's College. I told them that there were some really good things about the school, including small class sizes and great facilities. However, I told them, I would miss working with kids like Hornby kids. "What if they offered to pay you more to work there?" they asked as a test. "I wouldn't change schools even if they offered to pay me double" I replied. "For real?" one of my own Wānanga class asked. "For real" I truthfully replied. I guess it's easy to place a high value on the things you don't have. We need to work on helping our kids to have a more balanced view of the value of money against other things of value.

  

  Hornby kids taking charge in a challenge.
  

• Hornby kids love celebrities as much as anyone.  The students found out from a Christ's College teacher that our Principal Robin Sutton used to teach at Christ's College. They asked me if this was true, and when I confirmed this news it seemed to elevate Mr Sutton to celebrity status with the students. To bring Robin back to mortal status I told them "Yes, but he worked for Hornby before that, so he was really only on loan". "Oh, fair enough then" one student replied.

• We take some things for granted. At Hornby we start meetings with karakia and we open important events with presentations by our kapa haka group. We often (although not often enough) bless food with karakia kai. We celebrate bi-culturalism. Christ's College could learn much from Hornby High School.

All in all I enjoyed the "Be Inspired" workshop. I came away inspired enough to write this post.