An Inspiring School Thought for the Week

Whilst on a visit to a primary school to deliver a series of dinosaur and fossil themed workshops, an Everything Dinosaur team member spotted an inspiring thought for the week, a quotation from Sir David Attenborough.  Recently, the nonagenarian, naturalist and broadcaster has done a great deal to highlight global warming and climate change and the potential impact on our own species.  Posted up around the school and present in all the classrooms our staff member visited, was this quotation, helping to focus minds and to raise awareness.

Sir David Attenborough Provides an Inspirational Thought for the Week

Sir David Attenborough.
Life on Earth first shown in 1979. Sir David Attenborough helping to inspire pupils.

Thought for the Week

The quotation from Sir David reads:

“Cherish the natural world, because you’re a part of it and you depend on it.”

For the senior leadership team within a school, the publishing of a thought for the week, or even a thought for the day, should not become merely a routine.  Such a policy, at its best, should provide the starting point for debate and conversation, helping to trigger the pupil’s thinking processes and to permit reflection.  Staff too can play an important role as reflective practitioners helping to shape the debate and discussion.  Such inspirational thoughts can promote change and a re-thinking of attitudes.

Posting up comments from leading thinkers can provide the stimulus for conversations about fundamental issues affecting us all.  On this topic, one of our favourite quotations is from Nelson Mandela:

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Young activists such as Greta Thunberg are helping to change attitudes and to shape thinking.  The next generation has a key role to play in shaping our relationship with the natural world and the use of a thought for the week policy in the school brings issues to the fore and promotes involvement in the wider debate.

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