Vision, values and virtues

The focal point of education should be the vision of a school. Vision most appropriately arises within an established understanding of what is meant by school. Vision needs to be, for schools, a 'high' word. Authentic vision promotes right action and aspiration for the future. It also gives schools a secure and justifiable sense of direction. While vision may be shared, it is essentially a personal matter. The validity of any vision is best established through discussion and observation of its effects. The vision of a school is sustained by national values, and by values specific to its circumstances. There can be difficulties in identifying and substantiating these. Ultimately, a vision will only be authentic where it is integrally related to the practical objectives, or 'goods' of schools. These are that students should learn to good effect about persons: the curriculum, community and citizenship. The first virtues of these are respect, truth, fairness and responsibility. It is these virtues which should be seen as the vision of a school.