Today we assembled our year 9s to raise the Aboriginal flag. We then went to our lecture theatre with the intention of showing the broadcast of Parliament and the statement the Prime Minister was about to deliver. We missed it. Some of the students heard it broadcast on the radio in transit, but most missed it. We read the speech on the big screen and had a reflection on what it meant. The 200 students were absolutely silent. You could hear a pin drop.

In my English classes today, we discussed the days events. Some students commented they didn’t understand why they had to apologise when they hadn’t done anything wrong. Mind you I hear this every day when disputes occur and they have done something wrong! It was a great opportunity to talk about forgiveness and reconciliation, as well as history. I was impressed with the way they listened and expressed themselves. I was also pleased that although some of them expressed some concerns or doubts about it all, during the morning’s activities, they had been totally respectful.

We talked about the Government and the statement representing our entire community and how saying ‘Sorry’ was a heart change, that would be just as healing for each of us, who chose to take it to heart, as it would be for those receiving the apology. We talked about the things that had happened in the history of our relationship. We talked about how building trust would be slow and this was just a starting point. It felt very good to listen to the open minds of the young. These are the days I am following my bliss by being in the classroom.

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