The other day I was texted two photos. When the images popped up on my screen, I was surprised and a little horrified.
I had not seen the images for years and I responded to the sender asking them not to share the images with anyone else.
At assembly recently, I let the School Co-Captains have a look at the photos on my phone and let them describe the two images to students.
One image was of me in Grade 6 in the kitchen cutting onions wearing my swimming goggles. It was not a good look and nor did it significantly prevent the stimulation of my eyes’ lachrymal glands.
The second image was one of me horizontal on my bed in Grade 7 with a history textbook smothering my face after I had fallen asleep when I was meant to be studying. This moment in my childhood has served to this day as reminder of the importance of active study.
For more than thirty years, these two images had lived in a photo album until my mother decided to photography them digitally and share them with me.
Like you, I grew up in a world where photos were not digital. We had our role of film and twenty-four photos available to us. Film rolls were left at the local camera shop and photos were collected the next day.
Growing up, sharing photos was slow and costly. For students growing up in 2021, sharing photos is fast and free.
In this fast and free world of image sharing, young people need to be reminded by parents and educators alike of a few key points. In brief, these are the three points I shared with students:
- Ask before sharing – If you take a photo, do your friends the courtesy of checking they are ok appearing on your social media;
- Only post images you would be happy to see again five years from now – Once you post, you lose control of content which could cost you opportunities now and in the future; and
- Speak up – If another student takes a photo of you and you do not want your image captured, speak up. If someone posts an image you want taken down, speak up. If you need help with speaking up, speak to a teacher who will help you.
Each of these three points are common sense but among young people today across Australia, they are not common practice.
My hope is that through shared conversations at School and home, this common sense will become increasingly the norm for students who are part of the Launceston Grammar community.
As parents and carers, I would also encourage you to explore the resources available to you on Launceston Grammar’s subscription to SchoolTV .
The short and informative videos available to you include an excellent series on cybersafety and it would be good for all of us to view some of these videos.
175th Celebrations
In just over a week, on 15 June, the School will be celebrating the actual day on which the School was founded 175 years ago.
Students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 will come together at recess at the Senior Campus for a photo on the main oval, cake and to sing happy birthday.
If parents or grandparents would like to come along and join in the singing and cake from 10:50am to 11:10am, please Register Here so we can ensure there is some birthday cake for you to enjoy.
Richard Ford
Headmaster
