Bringing out the best in people
In 1967 I sat with the heavy education syllabus on my knees as I listened to my elderly Missionary mentor: she was explaining the Australian government’s sense of urgency to educate the future leaders of Papua and New Guinea in preparation for independence. “It’s the education of the elite — we need to bring the cream to the top and prepare them to rule the nation”. She was a good woman who truly loved the people she served. What she was teaching me was the Australian government’s education policy for the region. I was a girl from the poor inner suburbs of Melbourne. I didn’t like the sound of what I was hearing. “But what about those who don’t make the cut? What have we prepared them for?” It was a question without an answer and I determined there and then that I wouldn’t let one child feel isolated because they weren’t ‘good enough’ or ‘creamy enough’.
A final examination was conducted at the end of each year and 50% of children were sent home — even in grade 1. Regardless of the fact that these very young children were straight out of the village and working in their third language, the top 50% moved on to grade 2 and the rest went home. By the time children were in grade 3 or above, many were borders far from home to continue classes. So the investment that their parents and the villagers made was significant and so was the responsibility placed on the children: not only were they not available to take their place in village life, they were often living among tribal enemies. So each new school year, and new intake of borders, I prayed for opportunities for the children to find joy in each other and who they were together. Building a brilliant and inclusive class of happy children became a main goal for me.
When a strong and feisty young boy arrived as a border in January 1968 trouble erupted almost immediately. He walked into class with his elbows back, chin and chest out. At break time, it was his voice that boomed over the classroom wall, drowning out all others. Lord, have mercy. How can I help this boy enjoy his time here? “He is a leader. Give him responsibility.” But he hasn’t earned it….. Then I realised that none of us earn Mercy, Grace or Love! So I looked for the opportunity that I knew would emerge, the chance to offer him a leadership role. Within days I was given that opportunity but I had no idea how I was going to see it through. I was invited to present a Soccer team for the inter-school sports carnival in Bainyik. Now, I’m a girl from Melbourne — we played Aussie Rules football. I didn’t even know what a soccer ball looked like. But I accepted anyway. Fortunately my World Book encyclopedia had finally arrived from Australia so the next day I took the ‘S’ volume to class with me. We learned how to play the game on the blackboard. We learned what the field dimensions needed to be. Then for the next 2 weeks our break times were spent clearing the jungle behind the classroom on the only flat land on our side of the river. Soon we had a very impressive playing field, a donated soccer ball, and a class full of eager grade 3 boys keen to play. I turned to the new border and asked him to step forward. He came to me and I turned him to face the boys. “Could you train these boys as the winning team at Bainyik in 4 weeks?” “Yes, Miss George”. “Boys, would you like to have Visikila train you to win at Bainyik?” “Yes, Miss George”. “OK, it’s settled then. We start today after school for 1 hour.” That boy proved to be a fantastic leader. His loud voice carried from one end of the field to the other as he encouraged his team along. I never heard a harsh word from him again — only words of encouragement. The boys got permission from their parents to come on Saturdays to practice against the Catholic school boys (Sunday was for church). I also got busy making uniforms and a school banner — by hand. That’s how, in the time and space of 6 weeks, we built a field, built a soccer team and watched an unhappy bully transform into a hero leader because — yes — we took out the Cup! My Mother always told me that bringing out the best in people would fill my life with wonder and surprise. She was right.
