Closing Day Address 2009 – David Robertson, Headmaster
Honoured Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Graduates of the Class of 2009,
I could be forgiven for starting my address to you today with some mention of the time and how quickly it has passed this year, but I will only be forgiven by the blazer-clad hordes if I can avoid making the time pass very slowly in the next little while! If you think that today is the longest day of the year, think again, the solstice, the longest day, is actually tomorrow and after that fall will be here in no time! That said, today is all about time – our last time together in this school year, the grads’ last time in their #1’s, ever, the School’s last time listening to the ramblings of the Headmaster, and even the time you’ll check, surreptitiously perhaps, as you wonder how long there is to go! Before that blissful release, however, we have some very important moments, some time well-spent, marking significant achievements and special bonds. One of the cleverer mentions of time for me was the old advertisement slogan of the watchmakers, Timex, who announced one Christmas that there was ‘ no present like the time’. Ask a small child what they’d like when their mom or dad is really busy and time would not be far from the answer. Try asking someone dealing with a bucket list if there is any greater gift than time and you can guess the answer. Unable to halt the march of time, however, it is to the other part of the slogan, to the gift and giving, that I will turn my attention in the next little while. The irony rippling through the audience of a Scotsman talking about giving is not lost on me, but, for a nation whose past is described by eminent author, John Prebble, as, “the long brawl of Scottish history,” irony is not uncommon. What is the difference, by the way, between a tight rope and a Scotsman? – even a tight rope gives a little!
The Grad Class of 2009 has given much to their school and the magnificent year that we have enjoyed is the direct result, but more of that later as I want to turn my attention first to the adults who work here. Some of them are moving on to challenges new and we wish them well. Sarah Wiley, Angus Murray, Neil Bryant, Gail Conway, Rachel Peters, Robin Byers, Evan Hall, Kiel Peterson and Doug Wooldridge –thank you so much, The rest, the superb faculty and staff of Shawnigan have given so freely of themselves yet again in the countless hours that they have invested in making this school the very special place that it is, and I would like you all to join with me in recognizing the ‘talented people of character’ that are so crucial to the creation of the moments, those weavers of the memories, the keepers of the dream – ladies and gentlemen, School – our staff!
I would like to focus for a minute or two on our teachers in particular as there can be few professions in the world, more frequently undervalued or under-appreciated and yet, after parenting, teaching can play one of the biggest roles in the creation of the societies that we all aspire to for our children. Perhaps it’s because everybody has taught something to somebody at some time that makes teaching a bit like editing a newspaper or coaching a sports team in terms of everyone thinking that he or she can do it better. At the risk of preaching to the converted, I would proclaim to anyone that the world needs great teachers more than it ever has, but we also need to create the conditions in which they can thrive, in which they can follow the mantra, “instilling a zest for learning is instilling a zest for life.” In his seminal work, “The Closing of the American Mind,” Allan Bloom wrote, “Fathers and mothers have lost the idea that the highest aspiration they might have for their children is for them to be wise…specialized competence and success are all they can imagine.” Schools must be equipped again to venture, confidently but sensitively, into the realm of values and character just as we do at Shawnigan. Only then, will we restore the richness to the profession, the involvement that makes it a vocation, not just a job – something more akin to this description that I read recently, “a teacher is like a candle that lights others while consuming itself”
I offer my own admiration of my colleagues to our earlier recognition and my appreciation of their candle-like approach, The other vital part of the people equation, of course, is the student body (yes, that’s you, he says as various stirrings happen up there!). You will receive your report cards soon and I trust that they will reflect the efforts that you have poured into your school. I trust, too, that the typos and mis-prints will be minimal as I do get a bit worried when I read a House report like the one by the eminent House Director of Ripley’s, Mr. Samuel, who wrote a few years ago and I quote, “James has been a bit down recently so when he comes back after Christmas, I’ll see if he needs some extra hemp!” What kind of school are we running here?
Mr. Samuel is actually stepping down after a stellar stint of sixteen years in Ripley’s (nothing to do with the hemp!) and I will thank him for that later, but, for now I want to acknowledge his fine work as the Senior Master, responsible for tone and discipline, where he has again brought the blend of velvet glove and iron fist that is most effective in that role. In the same vein, I would like to single out the commitment, skill and leadership of the Deputy Head, Jo-Anne Kingstone, whose touch is all over the successful running of the School once again and whose tireless work is an inspiration to us all – well done and thank you! While I am on appreciation, I would like to signal the other members of the Senior Management Team for their invaluable help and countless hours, often behind the scenes, in making the whole engine function smoothly, and I’m referring to the Business Manager, Mrs. Linda Ewert, the Director of Admissions, Mrs. Gaynor Samuel, the Dean of Faculty, Mr. Stewart Candelaria, the Director of Advancement, Mr. Steve Housser and my assistant and right-hand, Ms. Rosemary Dolman – thank you all! I cannot think of Senior Management without thinking of the person who manages me and deserves a medal for that and for all the work she does for the School - that would be the lady sitting behind me, my lovely wife , Mrs. Lynn Robertson.
When asked recently by a visiting Head what I most proud of in this beautiful school, I answered, without hesitation – the students. He was surprised, so I elaborated. “I love the way that they treat each other (most of the time!), the way that they support each other and the way that they respond to the opportunities that this School represents” Those are the keys to a great school because if we are not graduating fine human beings who understand their responsibilities, who gain strength from their values, courage from their experiences and real confidence from their achievements large and small, then we are not fulfilling our mandate. John F Kennedy did indeed utter the oft-quoted, “For of those to whom much is given, much is required” and we at Shawnigan expect it to be so. That’s why our civic service endeavours, be they local or global and our constant fundraising efforts for causes are so important to us. That’s why, we delight in the approaches to the arts, to music, to sport, to life, and to other people that we see every day here. Some parents described the School in a lovely e-mail that they sent me a few months ago, as possessed of “a generosity of spirit that is shared manifold in this special place of learning.” Thanks, Gillie and Mark!
English teacher, John Sarsfield, who was recognized in Chapel this week for a lifetime of teaching passion, forty something years in all and who has just taught his last class (although he is not leaving us) PAUSE, sent me a story a while ago that shows the opposite of the dignity that our young people afford each other, It is set in the UK, where a London lawyer, up north on business runs a stop sign and gets pulled over by a Glasgow policeman. He thinks that he is surely smarter than the cop because he is after all a lawyer from LONDON and he’s certain that he has a better education than any Jock cop.
He decides to prove this to himself and have some fun at the Glasgow cop’s expense! The Glasgow cop says, “Licence and registration, please.”
London lawyer says, “What for?”
Glasgow cop says, “Ye didnae come to a complete stop at the stop sign.”
London lawyer says, “I slowed down, and no one was coming.”
Glasgow cop says, “Ye still didnae come to a complete stop. Licence and registration, please.”
London lawyer says, “What's the difference?”
Glasgow cop says, “The difference is, ye huvte to come to complete stop, that's the law. Licence and registration, please!”
London lawyer says, “If you can show me the legal difference between slow down and stop, I'll give you my licence and registration; and you give me the ticket. If not, you let me go and don't give me the ticket.”
Glasgow cop thinks for a minute then says, “Sounds fair. Exit your vehicle, sir.”
The London lawyer smugly exits his vehicle. The Glasgow cop takes out his baton, a cosh they used to call it, and starts beating the living daylight out of the lawyer and then he says,
“Now, dae ye want me to stop, or just slow down?”
Thanks, John! Always treat people respectfully!
What a year it has been again, with successes too numerous to mention here. I do not need to list all of our various triumphs, but I will borrow Steve Housser’s phrase, ‘School of Champions’. Sitting out there in their uniforms are world champions, national champions and provincial champions, champion performers and artists, but also, champions of the downtrodden, champions of right. I am not going to go through them all, because we have as a school honoured and recognised their accomplishments already, but I do want to pause at the world champion stage and acknowledge one more time that a special honours board has been commissioned to capture for posterity the event that took place after Closing Day last year, in July, and that was the winning of The Princess Elizabeth Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta in England by our Senior Boys Eight, an event that is tantamount to a school’s world championship. I would ask the four remaining members of that crew and their coach, Mr. Tim Coy to stand and receive our recognition now! The archives have the pictures of this and all the other achievements this year, but the lasting legacy will be the memories to be enjoyed forever. If indeed the advice is right that, “Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy” then we should all afford ourselves a brief respite perhaps in the coming months to savour what has been accomplished in the last twelve months.
Grads of 2009, what is my final advice for you in the brief remaining time when I can dare to issue instructions? Always find the higher ground. Soar like eagles with all the symbolic qualities that they represent. Remember the words of Winston Churchill, “When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber.” Avoid getting drawn into the “jabber.” Reject the negatives – leave the vultures to feed on the dead issues. You’ll be free to fly shortly and as you come down to receive your diplomas, accept them as a symbol of everything that we stand for at Shawnigan and keep them as a sort of talisman to remind you of what is important in life. Go out and make a difference in the world. You’re well on your way as givers in every good way imaginable, sharing your gifts with others. Think of these words by none other than the prolific modern author, Steven King, after he’d suffered a car accident,
“A couple of years ago I found out what ‘you can’t take it with you’ means. I found out while I was lying in a ditch at the side of a country road, covered with mud and blood and with the tibia of my right leg poking out the side of my jeans like a branch of a tree taken down in a thunderstorm. I had a MasterCard in my wallet, but when you’re lying in a ditch with broken glass in your hair, no one accepts MasterCard.
“…We come in naked and broke. We may be dressed when we go out, but we’re just as broke. Warren Buffet? Going to go out broke. Bill Gates? Going out broke. Tom Hanks? Going out broke. Steve King? Broke. Not a crying dime. All the money you earn, all the stocks you buy, all the mutual funds you trade—all of that is mostly smoke and mirrors. It’s still going to be a quarter-past getting late whether you tell the time on a Timex or a Rolex….
“So I want you to consider making your life one long gift to others. And why not? All you have is on loan, anyway. All that lasts is what you pass on…”
Grads, ask yourself frequently what your legacy will be, that’s what’s left behind when you have moved on. Leave everything and everywhere better than you found it. Sometimes the greatest gift that you can give people is something as simple as your time. Before I get too serious, however, it is worth recalling the advice of our speaker a few years ago who said, “Your families are extremely proud of you. You can't imagine the sense of relief they are experiencing right now. This would be a most opportune time to ask for money.”
Thank you, Grad 2009, for all that you have passed on to future generations at Shawnigan. Enjoy your moments in the sun – you’ve earned them. And now, as the saying goes, ”The clock is running. Make the most of today. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. And, today? Today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present. Thank you, grads of 2009, for the present and the past!