We Believe in Character Over Personality
Education helps to equip children with the ability to walk through, and engage with public space. Increasingly, countries are pinning their hopes on education to solve the world’s problems. Despite ongoing pressures with global testing, research is showing that it is more than high marks in exams that count. Rather, we want well rounded students who grow into responsible and engaged citizens that contribute to society in constructive ways.
Martin Luther King said “Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of education.” With home and school together, we hope to develop young men and women of character; people who follow Christ and flourish not just in their vocation or academic results, but as a person.
OTHERS-CENTREDNESS
Society certainly portrays the individual as the most important person in the world. The Bible clearly states that we should put Jesus first and other people before ourselves. This is the way that communities operate the best, as they take an outward looking approach that seeks to care for others.
Caring for others is a fundamental need for students to feel safe and for effective learning to occur. Knowing how to care often means knowing how to contribute to society, through work, volunteering and in day to day life. A child who learns how to care recognises that their own interests don’t have to come first. Reminding students of simple manners, such as please and thank you, opening doors for others, making way for parents and guests as they come into the school, all help students understand ways of caring for each other.
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
We also want to encourage our students to accept responsibility for their actions. Blaming someone else is so deeply entrenched in our society and it only leads to further breakdown of values. By learning to take responsibility, students learn from their mistakes and can become an agent for positive change. Taking responsibility builds resilience and helps create students of substance and character.
INTEGRITY
In a school, as with any organisation, integrity provides the means to be unified and cohesive as we engage in community based learning. CS Lewis (author of “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe”) said that “integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching”. Integrity is a character trait that is highly valued, and incorporates qualities such as honesty, truth and sincerity. Integrity is expressed through the way we behave, approach learning, treat others and even how we dress. It says that we are prepared to put other people above ourselves and not always take the convenient or easy option.
Carinya values integrity in both the staff and students and this is rooted and established firmly in our knowledge of Jesus Christ. When we live lives of integrity, not only does it impact the lives of those around us for good, but more importantly, it leads to glory and praise for our Lord Jesus.
“Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.”