Fosterian Magazine 1979 - Old Fosterians and Lord Digby's Old Girls

FOREWORD SCHOOL OFFICIALS 1978-79 Head of School. .......... . ... . . .... . ..... . . .. ..... ..... .... K. HARVEY Deputy Head of School .. ..... . . .... . ..... . . .... . . .. .. D . ROSEHead of the Boarding House ....... . .. . ... . ...... .. . .... .... K. HARVEYChairman of the Sixth FormCommon Room Committee . ........... .... ...... . ... . . . ... ..... D. ROSEDuty Prefects .. . .. .. .. ....... ... . ...... ... ... .. . . ... . ..... T. BENNETT M. BREWERR. DENNINGR. GREEND. GRIFFITHSL. HILLMANA. PARSONSC. PODGERR. RAYNERB. WHITEK. WREFORD-SMITHHead Librarians ... . . .. . . ... .. . . .. . .. .. ...... . ... ...... ... A. HAZZARDC. PODGERHouse Captains ­School ..... .... .. ........... ... . . . . .... . .... ........... K. HARVEY St. Dunstan's . .. ... .... . . ........ . ..... . .. . ....... .. . . .. J. PARSONS D. GRIFFITHSBede's . .. ....... ... .. .. ... .. ... ..... .... .. ........ .... ..... D. ROSESt. Aldhelm's ... .... . ... . ... ... ... . . .. ..... ... . . ....... L. HILLMANGames Captains ­Rugby . .. ...... ... ...... . .. ... ..... . . ..... .... .... . . . .. .. R. GREEN Soccer . .. . ................ ..... . ..... . . ... .. .... .. .... L. HILLMAN Cricket . ..... ... .... ....... . .... ... ..... . . .. .... ... . ... L. HILLMAN Badminton . ........ ...... .. . . .... .. . . .. . . .. . ....... . ... K. HARVEY Tennis ................. . .. . ... .. ........... . . . . ... . .. .. K. HARVEY Editorial Committee of"The Fosterian" .. ... .. ... .. . . . ..... .. ........... ..... ... K. L. HARVEYC. PODGERJ. FIELDP R. DOLBEARW. STAFFORDA. F AZAKERLEYAt a time of monetary inflation there is a real danger of the spread ofmercenary attitudes to everything from household management to the allocationof our leisure time. We are tempted to spend a disproportionate amount of timecalculating monetary advantage or at least trying to come to terms with a shiftingscale of money values.This inclination is given a further boost when the central government andlocal county council cut back the financial resources available to schools to carryout commitments within and beyond the formal curriculum. We are forced intothe position of defining our priorities more rigidly than ever before, and onceagain we have to establish a scale of values about our role in school.There are real pitfalls in assessing these priorities in any school, especiallyin the overall social climate of a utilitarian approach to school and furthereducation. For example, we may be pressed to measure courses on the numbersopting for them or some calculation oftheir strictly vocational value. We may bepressed to limit the range of our extra curricular activities, or we may have to cutback ancillary services such as school meals because these are deemed to be lessimportant school activities than direct teaching and learning . .The utilitarian emphasis ofan age ofaccountability, ofhigh unemployment,of shifting values, is understandable but schools living as communities have ahidden curriculum. For example, school lunch arrangements can provide anopportunity for boys ofdifTerent ages to sit down together and talk, and also formembers ofstafTtojoin them. This can be a valuable civilising respite in the midstof our bustling life together.Likewise courses in the school timetable should surely not be judged solelyon their relevance for qualification or careers. I am never tired of stressing thatchoices of courses in the sixth form and at university should be related toacademic interests and not simply to some formula dictated by the immediatelypressing demands ofsociety. The intellectual fascination derived from studying asubject and the enjoyment ofexploring further and further and deeper and deeperinto it is the key to personal fulfilment and progress. and it is here that ourpriorities must be centred for each of our pupils.C. J. L.4:;