This culminates in a presentation to parents and family members, during which each young person shares their experience of the main lesson as well as sharing their reflections on what stood out for them in the story and which parts affected them whether, positively or negatively.

The questions that were raised, the students’ reactions to certain parts of the story, and the way in which the story was received in the modern age were explored. Our Class 11s shared many amazing insights and a very deep understanding of themselves and their experiences.

The class was also treated to a workshop on discovering their temperaments providing insight not only into themselves and their classmates, but also into how this understanding could help them choose a suitable future career.

The temperament workshop, the Parzival story, their social practical and the job shadow (that they did earlier in the year) all work together to answer some of the key questions that the 17-year-old is asking, namely: Who am I? Who is the other? Where do I belong? What and how can I contribute to the world?

The Class 11 curriculum takes the teenager out of the class and into the world so that they can move out of their routines and rituals and experience something completely different. This is part of our school journey to help our children become independent, critical thinkers who are self-disciplined and empathetic, and who can take responsibility for their actions.

Having walked this journey with them, I am reminded that “an interesting journey never follows a straight path.”

Marjen van den Belt

Roy Davids
Class 11 Guardian