Tim O'Connor: Auckland Grammar headmaster speaks in defence of school prizegivings

Are school prizegivings harmful or helpful?

Discussions have surfaced as the school year comes to a close. 

Auckland Grammar headmaster, Tim O'Connor, says prizegivings are an opportunity to celebrate student achievement.

He says it doesn't mean everyone should get an award. 

"It's a ritual or a trait of education where, actually, we should learn how to be a contributing member of our community - and that includes being able to respect high-level achievement."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
With the school. Yeah, coming to a close. Students and
parents are attending their school prize givings. Discussion around whether
the student awards are fair or not has come back up,
with some arguing it can make children feel discouraged when
they don't win. It was an opinion piece done published
on One News today. We'll get to that in a
short and we'll get to that in a second. Au
Corong Grammar Headmaster Tim O'Connors with me tonight, Tim, good evening,

(00:23):
Good evening, Ron, good to have you on the show.
Let's start with your school. What awards do you guys
give out at prizegiving?

Speaker 2 (00:32):
So we have full school prize giving, so Form three
rights were to Form seven and one go seven hundred
and eighty prizes we hand out on that morning, everything
from sports prizes, performing arts, culture, character diligence, academic prizes,
special academic prizes leading to the Pinnacle award which is

(00:55):
the Ducks.

Speaker 1 (00:57):
So how many will here's a question, how many can
would miss out on an award?

Speaker 2 (01:03):
Well, if there's twenty seven hundred students in the school,
then you know just under two thousand.

Speaker 1 (01:09):
Right, and do you feel bad for them? I mean,
should we feel bad for them. Is it a reason
not to do awards ceremonies, No, not at all.

Speaker 2 (01:19):
Prize givings are an opportunity to actually celebrate student achievement.
It doesn't mean that everyone should get an award. The
concept of coming together as a community actually described us
at prize giving to remind our boys of it is.
It's actually it's a ritual or a trait of education
where actually we should learn how to be a contributing

(01:41):
member of a community, and that includes being able to
respect high level achievements. It includes coming into a formal
occasion where there is a certain standard of behavior that's
expected in terms of the way you respond to those
who are crossing. There's a dress standard. It's a sense
of occasion which is actually a part of education where

(02:02):
we're actually initiating young people into traditions and ways of
doing and ways of being.

Speaker 1 (02:08):
This opinion piece and I know you've had a look
at it from Alice Waghorn, was published from the conversation
I Think in one use Today says awards can lead
children to depend on external validation. When kids get used
to seeking approval through awards, they may struggle to find
self worth and motivation in their own efforts. I mean
that sounds like a little bit of nonsense to me,

(02:29):
But do you see any truth in that.

Speaker 2 (02:31):
Maybe for some kids, perhaps it's dependent on age. But
in a secondary environment, we describe ourselves to the boys
and we remind them on a daily basis at assembly
that we're a meritocratic environment. At every single one of
them enters our gates on a daily basis, wearing the
same uniform, with the same opportunity, and it really is

(02:55):
dependent then on their attitude and their work ethic as
to the level of success or the level of learning
that they experience. So now, yeard, i'd disagree. I actually
shared in Prizegiving this year with the boys a quote
from New Zealand writer from cal Steed, who said, you
can't create equality by legislation. You can only create opportunity

(03:19):
and let time and individuals do their work. Equality of
opportunity is the moral principle. Inequality of talent, energy, commitment, intelligence,
strength of purse, purpose and will is a fact of
life and I'd wholly endorse that.

Speaker 1 (03:34):
Quite refreshing to hear. Actually, thank you very much about
Tim O'Connor. Auckland grammar Headmaster. For more from Heather Duplessy
Allen Drive, listen live to news talks that'd be from
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