Principal's Address

One of the great joys of working in a P–12 school is the privilege of watching children grow, not just physically, but emotionally, socially, and intellectually from their earliest school years through to their emergence as young adults. As educators and parents, we share a common goal: to help our children lead full and flourishing lives into the future.

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a professional development session with Michael Hawton, a respected Australian psychologist known for his work in child welfare. In a small group setting, Michael expressed genuine interest in the cultural transformation underway at St John’s, particularly our efforts to enhance student engagement through a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) model. He also shared a list of recommended readings to support our work with children, one of which took me by surprise.

The first book on his list was Against Empathy by psychologist Paul Bloom. At first glance, the title seemed counterintuitive. Isn’t empathy a personal quality required for effective teaching and parenting?

Bloom suggests that while emotional empathy, the ability to feel what others feel, is often seen as a moral virtue, it can sometimes lead us to make decisions that feel right in the moment but aren’t necessarily beneficial in the long term. When we rush to alleviate a child’s discomfort, we may inadvertently deny them the chance to develop resilience and problem-solving skills.

Bloom advocates for a form of care rooted in reason rather than emotion. Sometimes, the most loving response is not immediate comfort, but the courage to set boundaries, allow natural consequences, and support children in navigating challenges independently.

We see this principle in action every day. When a student forgets their homework, hat, or jumper, it’s tempting to excuse the oversight or deliver the missing item ourselves. Yet, allowing them to experience the consequence can foster responsibility and independence. Similarly, when playground disagreements arise, our instinct may be to intervene quickly. But guiding children through conflict resolution often teaches them more than shielding them from the discomfort ever could.

I must admit that this message resonated with me. My kids are extremely absent-minded when it comes to remembering where they’ve left their things. Just yesterday, I found myself doing exactly what Bloom cautions against. My daughter had lost her jumper, and a thoughtful teacher had put it on my desk.  Without hesitation, I delivered it to her classroom. In that moment, I felt I was being a caring parent. But as I walked back to my office, I realised I had missed an opportunity. An opportunity for her to experience the natural consequence of losing something important, take responsibility, search the lost property, go to the office and resolve the problem herself, hopefully reinforcing the importance of keeping track of her belongings. It was a reminder that even with the best intentions, we can sometimes get in the way of our children’s growth.

This approach is not about being cold or unfeeling. It’s about recognising that discomfort, failure, and challenge are essential components of growth, both in the classroom and in life. These experiences help shape the character and capabilities our children will need as adults.

At St John’s, our mission extends beyond academic achievement. We are committed to partnering with families to nurture strong, resilient, and thoughtful individuals who are open to faith and equipped to thrive in a complex world. That means making decisions that may be difficult in the short term but are ultimately in our children’s best interests.

I will be on long service leave during Weeks 4 and 5 (Monday 4 August – Friday 15 August). During this time, Mr Ryan Doig will be stepping into the role of Acting Principal.

For any general enquiries, please continue to contact our office via roma@twb.catholic.edu.au. Our administration team will ensure your message is directed to the most appropriate staff member for a timely response.

Cheers,

Mark