Post by Wayne Hall on Sept 23, 2022 2:10:01 GMT -5
As a graduate from the music department of the University of Sydney (anything BUT a distinguished one), when I started schoolteaching I was asked to take over organization of a school concert. I don't remember whether this was Whyalla High School in 1971 or Marion High School, Adelaide in 1972 (both in South Australia).
The school song of the school offended me by the confusion of its words:
"One school for all, where each alike may learn
And no race or creed divide
One school for all, may we show our concern
As we reflect our unity with pride
As we reflect our unity with pride."
How can one show one's concern, a quintessentially individual matter, while reflecting one's unity with pride? Nothing if not collective!
I decided to rewrite it in post-colonial mode:
"One school for all, we're striving to conceive
A joyful sense of purpose in
One school for all where we gladly believe
That true authority resides within
That true authority resides within
The world's frontiers have all been closed,
The evils of the past exposed
No land awaits the pioneer
The challenges are now and here
We need tranquility of mind
To leave the dismal past behind
Whatever threatens we'll endure it
For we are living in the spirit
Of one school for all...." etc.
I submitted this for consideration, but merely elicited embarrassment.
That was the end of my attempts to play the music teacher in a school.
If it had been submitted in 2022, not in the early 1970s, perhaps it would have been accepted. Who knows? Who cares?
The school song of the school offended me by the confusion of its words:
"One school for all, where each alike may learn
And no race or creed divide
One school for all, may we show our concern
As we reflect our unity with pride
As we reflect our unity with pride."
How can one show one's concern, a quintessentially individual matter, while reflecting one's unity with pride? Nothing if not collective!
I decided to rewrite it in post-colonial mode:
"One school for all, we're striving to conceive
A joyful sense of purpose in
One school for all where we gladly believe
That true authority resides within
That true authority resides within
The world's frontiers have all been closed,
The evils of the past exposed
No land awaits the pioneer
The challenges are now and here
We need tranquility of mind
To leave the dismal past behind
Whatever threatens we'll endure it
For we are living in the spirit
Of one school for all...." etc.
I submitted this for consideration, but merely elicited embarrassment.
That was the end of my attempts to play the music teacher in a school.
If it had been submitted in 2022, not in the early 1970s, perhaps it would have been accepted. Who knows? Who cares?