HEADMASTER'S'lREPOlRT
The first week of 200 I saw Mr Bill Price, an erudite and eloquent speaker, address a number of groups at the school. Arguably his most thought-provoking address \vas the one he gave to parents and teachers one evening, entitled "The Future Focused Learner". It I as a result of hIS vlsit that the four Wynberg schools are undergoing a survey of parents to ascertain the e>.-pectationsof our parenl bodies Is Wynberg oflenng value for money? Are we meellng lhe needs of young people as they tackle the challenge of the 21 t Century? Is our communit teachers, parents, puptls-taking ownership of the direction in which the school is moving? So far, earl indJcations of the intervie\ with parents show that the want their children lo be safe, happy, have fnends, have clear set boundaries and to have fun. The want adults to nOllce when their children arc sad, lonely, bored and friendless. Some wa down the track, the \ anI their sons and daughters to learn maths and histo!), but it is a long way do\\n the agenda In one of m newsletters this ear I QUOled AAslolle, who stated thaI, "Teachers who educate
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children deserve more honour than parents who merely gIve them birth. For the latIer provided mere life, while the fonner ensured a good life." Teachers of Wynberg play a significant role in realising the expectations of parents, and I salute our teachers for their skills, commitment and enthusiasm-thereby ensuring the maxim of Bill Price, "You teachers must be pioneers of the future, not prisoners of the past." No one year is ever like any other-and it is pleasing to note that the changes thal are happenmg at Wynberg are building on the foundations and strengths laid by those who have gone before. Sometimes in education we feel overwhelmed by the far-reaching nature and pace of change. However, il is not only in South Africa but in education all around the world where standards, morals and values--previously taken as a given-are being challenged. Perhaps that well-known bumper sticker says it all: "Change is inevitable-cxcept m vending machines!" Hopefully the readers of this ruullIal magazine will sense that the school is a highly compIe enuly striving lO give opportwlilies over a broad spectrum of activity. Even though we arc a big school of over 800 oung men, the discerning reader of these pages will be able to glean some of the jo s, laughter, fun, struggles and challenges which make up a school year. I am happy with the academic standards of W)1lbcrg Bo s' High School. These are obvious not only from the matric results, but from the perfonnances of our pupils in a myriad of interschool competitaons, OlympIads and quizzes One of our aims must be to prepare our OWlgmen for tertiary education. Consequently, it was iIluntinating to receive a prinlout from UCT during the year and to nole the progress of the 250 W mberg men currently reading for degrees al UCT. This indicates thal our long-term academic future is bright and that the majorit of our pupils espouse the values thal are needed in the 21st Century mnovallve thll1kmg, enthusiasm. hard work ruld corrunatmenl Quality teaching and quality learning are the rocks on which the daily activities of Wynberg are
Bo, • Hllh School M.larln~ 2001 -4-
