1978 School Magazine

THE FIFTH FORM CAMP How the camp ever got organized, how one hundred and fifty girls spend four days together without a Hiroshima like disaster and how we al managed to return to school perhaps slightly tattered but in relatively good form will never be discovered. However, the feed back from all parts of the school as a result of the camp indicate that the campwas a success and that the findings from that camp will be put into action this year and hopefully con- tinue right through until the end of next year. It was decided that the camp would be held earlier this year that it was last year to eliminate some of the parasitic like crawling done by recently enlightened girls who decided that it would be nice to have a reference saying. "Jane was a school prefect". This was eliminated since none of the girls were under parent, peer of end of school pressure to perform well, the workshops and discussion groups were therefore car- ried out in a relaxed informal atmosphere so maximum benefit was gained by them.

Mrs. Lynch organised guest speakers who were willing enough to drive up to Alexander Park to speak to us. Dr. Gerhman spoke on the role of the trustees, Mrs. Biggs spoke on sexuality and representatives of the Health Education Council gave us a physical self assessment. They discovered that most girls had a vitality age of twenty{our years old and wouldn't be able to walk up a flight of stairs without the reviving efforts of oxygen. Since so many subjects were discussed at the camp, it was an estimation of our school education - an educa- tion that wouldn't and couldn't have been "learnt" in the classroom.

The organization of these workshops were organised by the fifteen girl camp committee with three represen- tatives from each form. The committee was put under the direction of Peter Meggitt from the Mt. Gravalt Teachers College who assigned topics to each group. Activities and discussion were chosen by the groups that would promote and explore such areas as, communica- tion, shared leadership, self awareness, group member- ship, consensus decision making, values clarification co-operation and competition. Many activities required the help of form members who acted as leaders of a discussion or aclivity. This was perhaps the most pleas- ing part of the camp - the girls willingness to par- ticipate and help.

The camp wasn't one with calculated indoctrination ano brain washing session on what we must do as Sixth formers next year or one where we cast a hostile, disillu- sioned eye over the school system and condemn it to life imprisonment. The camp had a possible approach and outcome. lts aims ranged from merely having a good time through to discovering people other than those im- mediately in a small clique. Through experience were learnt something of responsibility, membership, leader- ship and something of ourselves and can now adapt these things to the school situation where we shall next year {ind ourselves the "leaders of the school". the Committee.

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