By Glen Turner – Special to the Sydenham Current
I had to visit the local high school, WDSS, the other day, and something occurred to me.
Actually, the idea has been percolating for some years, but I never really thought about how to present the thought.
I noticed the changes in their main hall, and saw that the old lists of Ontario Scholars had been moved there.
There is, of course, a picture gallery near the Weber Auditorium, the big gym, that features athletic bursary/scholarship students.
What’s missing for me, though, is a picture gallery of former students who have gone on to ACADEMIC success.
Right there, in the front hall, inside the main entrance.
WDSS has produced some incredibly successful grads.
They’ve gone on to become doctors, lawyers, veterinarians, chiropractors, teachers, business people, nurses and so on, and have made names for themselves both here and elsewhere, even in other countries.
Our job as teachers was (and is) to develop fully-rounded individuals, of course, but the main focus was, and is, on the academic success.
In many cases, we succeeded.
Sure, we can recognize Ontario scholarships, but what about AFTER they’ve left high school and moved on to greater things?
Couldn’t we recognize that as well?
The main reason I thought of this is personal, actually.
A former student (also a former step-son) received his PhD (Physics) this week.
Impressive, no?
And he’s a WDSS grad too.
If the school needs an example, John McGregor Secondary School in Chatham has exactly what I’m talking about.
Right inside their front doors!
Maybe such a gallery could be a great project for… students council? Parent council?
Imagine people walking into the school for the first time, and all they see is “success!”
It might make a few people think.
