2017 School Magazine

VALUED PERSPECTIVES

At the heart of a broad, liberal education at Brisbane Girls Grammar School is the development of higher order, critical thinking skills and an open-minded approach to learning. Within our culture of embedded learning — where teachers and students together model a passion for diversity of thought and intellectual rigour in forming opinions — Grammar girls engage in lively, well-informed, respectful discussion and debate. In a world that sometimes encourages young people to focus on material gain while neglecting to cultivate a rich, inner life, never has it been more important for the voices of strong, independent, compassionate women to be heard and be part of creating a more enlightened, progressive world. As former Archbishop of Cape Town, Nobel Laureate and architect of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission process in post-Apartheid South Africa, Desmond Tutu, notes ‘Language is very powerful. Language does not just describe reality. Language creates the reality it describes’. This selection of student Perspectives reveals the depth of thought among our students — their readiness to be tomorrow’s leaders, and a willingness to challenge the status quo and speak out against injustice and inequality. To read the full articles, visit www.bggs.qld.edu.au/perspectives. ON BEING A ‘GRAMMAR GIRL’ Head Girls 2017, Lucinda Duke (12H) and Elizabeth Prins (12B) discuss the spirit and diversity of experiences at this School and how they serve to be the educational foundation for young women to contribute confidently to their world. BEYOND OUR BACKYARD Junior Merle Weaver Public Speaking Competition winner, Adhiti Gobindnarain (10E), asserts that as tomorrow’s leaders, today’s youth will see beyond borders, race, religion and gender, and be true citizens of the human race. CHILD SWEATSHOP LABOUR Senior Merle Weaver Public Speaking Competition winner, Isabel Nolan (12B), reveals the brutal reality of child sweatshop labour and thoughtfully questions our own roles in exploiting children in the product supply chain. LUCK IS NOT A MATTER OF CHANCE Abirami Somasundaram (12M) reasons that beyond a being merely a matter of chance, preparation, hard work and positivity go a long way towards making a person ‘lucky’ and encourages readers to let go of doubts and pursue their dreams. MIND OVER MATTER Penelope Sophios (10W) urges readers to unleash the power of their minds by offering insights into and examples of how a positive mindset can change for the better the outer aspects of people’s lives. MS JACINDA EULER PRINCIPAL

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