Just Actions at school Jesuit pupils are growing up to be… Just Actions that promote these virtues at school An example from the Jesuit community Inspiration from the Jesuit world Grateful and generous - Fundraising; - Fasting; - Donating old clothes and objects, and food to food banks; - Service and volunteering; - Showing gratitude to those who work for us and help us daily; - Not wasting food or energy... ‘This year, after a school visit from Zimbabwe, I wanted to involve pupils in fundraising directly. First, I wrote to parents suggesting that pupils gave up snacks in order to fundraise for pupils in Zimbabwe. The upcoming week teachers stood in the school hallway holding boxes for offers and asked pupils what they gave up during the weekend. We also held a school assembly about education in Zimbabwe and about what it means to be generous. The initiative was very successful.’ Eileen Groenen, chaplain at Donhead Primary ‘Each of us is indeed a center. But a center called to go out of ourselves, to give ourselves to others in love’ (Pedro Arrupe) Attentive and discerning Being attentive and discerning goes at the heart of what we do: it helps pupils to find motivation and purpose, and to reflect about why and how they can act justly. We can promote this by: - Introducing 5 minutes of stillness in the school day, encouraging students to listen to inclinations and desires; - Encouraging pupils to ask themselves questions like: how can I promote social justice with my skills and talents? ‘Teachers model ethical behavior during assemblies and classes of religious education to set an example. During assemblies, we also praise students who ‘made the right choice’ by, for example, standing up against bullism. We focus mainly on pupils who promoted justice without being asked to. It is essential to work on pupils’ sense of responsibility and personal ethic, so that they behave fairly not because teachers are watching them, but because they think it is fair.’ Elizabeth Stevens, Head of St. Joseph’s Hurst Green “Don't ask the world to change....you change first.” ― Anthony de Mello, Awareness
- Encouraging responsible lifestyle and shopping choices, for example by preferring ethically sourced products. Compassionate and loving - Campaigning for social justice (e.g. the IF Campaign of 2013); - Service and volunteering; - School assemblies and curricular activities about issues of social justice, poverty or violence; - Listening to and putting oneself in the shoes of others in order to truly serve them; - Not judging others by their appearance, looks, lifestyle or background; - Meaningful contact with communities in need, and from different cultural or religious backgrounds (e.g. school linking through the Companions Programme)… ‘Once per year we hold a homeless sleep out. Students heard the testimony of a homeless person and chat informally with them. For many this lifts a veil of separation: it strikes them that homeless people are human too. They have a Mass, spend time in isolation, create posters and finally sleep rough for the night in our grounds.’ James Potter, chaplain at Wimbledon College, UK ‘Charity and justice meet together and in practice are identical. How can you love someone and treat him or her unjustly? Take justice away from love and you destroy love.’ Pedro Arrupe Faith-filled and hopeful - School groups focusing on the future (e.g. through an Eco Group); - Using scriptures and psalms to inspire action for social justice; - Involving parents in social justice initiatives also at a secondary school level; - Informing students about positive progress in the elimination of poverty and social injustice; - Activities that build students’ confidence in their own skills and trust in one another, such as group work or cooperative activities… ‘The teachers of Canisius had a lot to teach to us about being proud of one’s school, having a clear vision and energy to take it forward. For example, Canisius’ mission is to ‘Build a nation’. Before the visit, we’d assumed the partner from ‘the north’ was the strongest in a partnership, but when we got out there we realised it may be the other way around.’ Fr Simon Ellis, Mount St. Mary’s, on the Companion school Canisius in Zambia ‘I have confidence in you and I pray for you. Have the courage “to swim against the tide”. And also have the courage to be happy.’ Pope Francis