Message from the Head of Primary: Father's Day

What do I love about teaching? I love the building of relationships that leads to others growing, developing and improving.  I love it when I see a child ignite with interest, or beam with success at grasping a new concept, or mastering a skill after much practice I love the fact we think we are making a difference so that others can achieve and go on to do even better and bigger things that keep our world moving forward.  

As a child, I had some mediocre teachers, some who were awful, and some who just ‘got me’ and made me realise that I mattered and that I could achieve and do something beyond my initial expectations. Mr. Strong, a History teacher in South Wales, is still a hero to me.  A man you would not look twice at on passing, inspired many students to look beyond their surroundings, to look into the wider world and to consider the impossible being possible. He would often ask, ‘Why not? Why can’t you? Why shouldn’t it be you?’. He opened my eyes to horizons beyond Caldicot in South Wales and since then I have never looked back.

Another person who did not necessarily inspire me, but did enable me, was my stepfather. He was a constant in my teenage years and although I did not always warm to him, I realised later in my life that he was gently pushing and nudging me to aspire to bigger and better things. To believe in myself and to not worry about having a go or trying something. Both of these figures have helped to shape the person I am today, and I am truly grateful to them both. 

This week, many of our community will have taken time to celebrate Father’s Day. The day has its origins from both the Catholic Church where they celebrate Saint Joseph’s Day and a daughter in America called Sonora Smart Dodd. Her father, a veteran from the Civil War was widowed and left to raise the family. Sonora was so impressed by him being such a positive influence that she felt that there should be a day devoted to fathers just like the day that already existed to celebrate mothers. This was adopted in America in 1910 and the first recognised Father’s Day was celebrated.

Father’s Day is devoted to honoring fatherhood and paternal bonds as well as the influence of fathers on society. I am sure, just like me, you can all identify father figures in our lives who have all helped to shape and influence us for the better. Indeed, we all live in a nation that is built on fatherhood. The father of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayn has not only influenced his own family for the better but millions of others, creating a nation that continues to be aspirational and innovative because of his principles and influence.

We live in a place that leads the way on so many levels and yet is so young in its existence as a country. It is hard to imagine the differences in 50 years – from a simple existence to leading cutting edge space exploration for example. The differences are marked and all because of one inspirational father figure. Today we live in a country that has so much hope and opportunity. We can all be grateful for the influence of father figures in our lives. 

Alan Cocker