Generosity of Spirit - invaluable concepts that are rarely taught in schools.
In the course of a lifetime we will encounter all manner of humanity in all of its most diverse forms. The problem with humanity, though, is that what we see outwardly does not always accurately reflect the inner story unfolding in that person's life. From good people dealing with difficult issues putting on a brave face, to evil people hiding dark secrets behind a benign facade - in the deeply human enterprise of education the quote (mis-attributed to Plato, but thought to have originated with one Ian Maclaren in 1897 (paraphrased here)) “Everyone is fighting a silent battle you know nothing about, just be kind.” could never be more appropriate. No message is more needed in our days of stress and storm, of selfish striving and merciless competition. In any group dynamic (such as a classroom), there are individuals that stand out through their shadow behaviour - behaviour that tells a story to the observant: the bully, over-compensating for feelings of inadequacy by project...