by Andrew Sewell (Co-ordinator of Advisor Program)
The goals of Pearson College are, as goals should be, abstract and ambitious: education in the total sense, involved, active, educated citizens, a force against bigotry and hatred, and understanding between peoples.
Meeting these goals happens on many concrete, achievable fronts: the full scholarship policy, the International Baccalaureate diploma (stressing academics, creativity, action and service) International Affairs, the Pacifica Programme, etc.
But can these goals be achieved in relation to the less glamorous side of education for 16-19 years olds, such as: nutrition, drug and alcohol use, and stress? This question lead to the creation, this year, of the International Understanding programme.
Inspired by ideas in an article called 'Pastoral Care Programmes and their Place in International Education: the Experience of one International School' (International Education, 1997/XVI/2) by Li Po Chun's former Director of Guidance, Barry Drake, the aim of the International Understanding programme at Pearson is, using his words, “enhancing international understanding of a range of sensitive issues.” In other words, the idea is for students to share with each other their experiences from home with regard to these very same kind of topics: nutrition, drug and alcohol use, and stress.
The first session, held the day after a Wellness Programme presentation by a local drug and alcohol councellor, focused on 'International Attitudes towards Substance Use.'
Eight students volunteered to present. Amanda Judd (Ontario) and Grace Ho (BC) gave Canadian perspectives. Shanoor Seervai (India), Yeshey Lhaden (Bhutan), and Mona Aditya (Nepal) spoke about their experience in the Indian Subcontinent. Adam Spooner (UK), Sarah Besch (Switzerland) and Giorgia Gon (Italy) spoke from their point of view as Europeans.
Each student spoke from a deliberately subjective perspective, trying to avoid generalizations and statistics, and focusing instead on their own first hand experience. Students heard about the widespread use of drugs and alcohol, police raids of high schools using sniffer-dogs, the club scene, the celebration of Hindu festivals, the search of students' bags, and the death of a family member from drug overdose. Throughout, the audience seemed riveted by the personal stories their peers told.
The next International Understanding session promises to be just as enlightening. Students have suggested that in the future, more time be left for question and answer and small group discussion.
To end the evening, students participated in a round of the internationally recognized game 'rock, paper, scissors' as an earthquake relief fund-raiser. As a result of each student bringing one Canadian coin and playing until only one student had won them all, $87 C was raised.
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