Thought For The Day – Thursday 21^st November 2024

Yesterday, 20^th November, was World Children’s Day.

Looking after the young, and the elderly,  is important in society.

Valuing the vulnerable says much about a person and a community, whether that be in person or on-line.

Yesterday, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, said:

“On World Children’s Day, we celebrate the youngest members of our human family.“

As we know from our experience at TBSHS, and as all families, schools and different community groups know, children and young people so often appropriately lead the way, showing inspirational care, enthusiasm, humility, kindness, open-mindedness, resilience, respect, teamwork and thoughtfulness, also offering new insights and solutions to complex issues and problems.

In one of the philosopher Plato’s dialogues, a young person answers the philosopher Socrates’ complex mathematical question.

In Christianity, Jesus spoke of a particularly happy, humble, giving, kind, open, positive and respectful  attitude and ethos when he said:

“Unless someone accepts and receives the Kingdom of God like a child, they will not enter it”. 

Other religions and cultures have similar attitudes.

In our school, in our local area, in the U.K. and around the world, we respect and value children and young people.

We are inspired by the good and great things  children and young people, including all of you,  do.

We fully respect their, and your, rights, showing empathy and empowering their and your positive and wonderful future.

This includes standing against negative prejudice and discrimination and anything abusive, exploitative, harmful, toxic, unequal and unjust to children and young people, and our and their environment, whether that be in-person or on-line.

It means staying safe and keeping others safe.

It means inspiring happiness,  kindness, love, peace, positivity and respect.

It means “for every child, every right” to quote the United Nations.

Children’s rights are human rights.  Human rights are children’s rights.

The Christian theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer,, who stood up to the Nazis said:  “The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children”.

Children and young people are irreplaceable, precious, unique and valued.

You are irreplaceable, precious, unique and valued.

We deeply keep in mind any children and young people going through challenging times and trauma, “children in need” and any children and young people who have passed away.

We thank all who care for, and support, children and young people in every area of society and the world.

The theme of World Children’s Day 2024 is: “Listen to the future”.

The world needs to care for, listen to and be inspired by its children and young people.

For we are one holistic community and one world. 

Past, present… and future.

“Dear adults:  A letter from the world’s children”, World Children’s Day, 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL1qWk2zKbc