Achievements
Vicar's letter
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Achievements |
Vicar's letter |
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In July, I attended three graduation ceremonies and the junior prize giving at Maidstone Grammar School (MGS). Each of these gave rise to thought. At MGS the proportion of those receiving prizes from ethnic minority backgrounds is greater than the proportion in the school as a whole. Again in the three graduations, students came from very many nations and backgrounds. At the European School of Osteopathy (ESO) graduation besides English, speeches were made in French, Italian. Spanish, Russian, German and Norwegian. Oxford solves the language problem by only using Latin.
Here the world comes together; and there is clearly much rejoicing at the enrichments that come from such diversity uniting on common endeavours. It is also clear, that to achieve the degrees I witnessed presented at KIAD, ESO and Oxford required abilities and hard work of a very high order. KIAD and ESO are professional schools requiring not only academic ability (the theory sections of the course), but also great physical and intellectual skills as well as research abilities and financial skills which both institutions teach as an integral part of their courses. I am full of admiration for all that the mostly young people achieved.
What is sad is how the wider world seems to loose the ability to full harness these skills and use them. In the Times last week a father wrote of his frustration that his daughter, after following an arduous training as a physiotherapist could only find a job as a check our assistant in Sainsbury’s. The same day I received a letter from Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells Hospital Trust telling me that there was a 21 week delay in their being able to make physiotherapy appointments. So many of our public and indeed private organisations seem unable to develop the abilities of these gifted and well trained young people so that they serve the public with the much better services we all long for.
We are told that we are to engage in life long learning. I have now served as a parish priest for over 32 years and apart from one month long course at St George’s Windsor which was excellent; I have received no in service training in a rapidly changing world. I have, though, found some conferences and study weeks outside the church which have been greatly helpful. I suspect that a similar situation exists in many organisations. Consider also the vast investment in management training in the last 20 years and how so much in our country seems so badly managed still.
I do not know what the answer is; but I find great hope in the abilities of the young and I hope our nation will be able to develop these in the service of all who share this planet with us.
Christopher Morgan - Jones
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