Dear Parents and Friends of Eddies,
As Ray Bradbury observes in Fahrenheit 451, our current Year 11 novel, we risk becoming intellectually starved and easily controlled when we sacrifice quality for shallow entertainment – or as he puts it ‘flowers and fireworks’ – and surrender our time for reflection and our freedom to act on knowledge. At St. Edmund’s we strive to immerse our boys in the excellent world of language and literature, to become cultured young men with vibrant spirits, and to explore everything from Shakespearean classics to the art of Japanese bonsai.
Our Year 9s recently delved into the world of Shakespeare with Bell Shakespeare’s “Shakespeare is Dead”, right here in our Hall. This fast-paced, humorous, and thought-provoking show tackled the lingering question of why we should still consider Shakespeare’s plays today. Students were treated to a “best bits” compilation of Shakespeare’s work from plays like Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Hamlet. The highlight was certainly when Mr Clark as Gertrude drunk from the poisoned cup and was slain to much applause from our enraptured Year 9s!
Our Year 10s also enjoyed a special performance by Bell Shakespeare’s The Players that showcased the Bard’s unparalleled ability to understand humanity through characters that reflect our own glories, flaws, and the very essence of what it means to be human. As one of our scholars remarked after the performance, ‘that wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be’ – high praise from a teenager!
To prepare for their upcoming exam, our Year 12 students will soon be attending a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Canberra Theatre. In this enchanting forest, where “the course of true love never did run smooth,” they will encounter star-crossed lovers, mischievous fairies, and bumbling Athenian craftsmen. We wish them all the best as they “give to airy nothing a local habitation and a name.”
Our Year 8s, currently studying myths and legends like Homer’s Odyssey, will be introduced to Shakespeare later this year with an abridged study of the Dream, too.
From there, Year 12T will journey into their final unit of study at Eddies, exploring voices of the common man. Students will analyse poems by Hesiod, Blake, Shelley, Whitman, Neruda, Lawson, and Murray, and then investigate The Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck, a great book which reminds us of the power of community and serving others. This unit culminates with an examination of The Great Gatsby, an invitation to consider the quest for self-improvement and reinvention. “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
Japanese
Our Year 8 Japanese students are embarking on an enriching excursion to a bonsai exhibition at the Arboretum this week, too. This immersive experience will provide them with first-hand exposure to the art of Bonsai, a traditional Japanese art form. They will delve into the history, techniques, and cultural significance of Bonsai cultivation, developing a deeper appreciation for the beauty and meticulous care involved in its creation. Additionally, the students will visit the serene Peace Park at Lennox Gardens, a gift from the people of Nara. With a talk from Canberra Rotary, they will learn about and celebrate the sister-city link between Canberra and Nara, Japan’s ancient capital, and have the opportunity to ring the Peace Bell.
Their Year 7 counterparts have an exciting Kendo demonstration to also look forward to next Term.
So much great work is always happening in our English and Languages classrooms thanks to our dedicated teachers. We appreciate your continued support in nurturing your son’s language and literary development. Let’s continue to provide our boys with quality, texture of information. If we give them ‘good rain and black loam’, as Ray Bradbury quips, they will certainly grow.
Edmund’s to the fore!
Oliver Burke
Head of English and Languages