When distinguished education expert professor Jonathan Jansen arrived to deliver the keynote address at Muir College Boys High School in Kariega on Thursday, a grade 4 pupil greeted him with an enthusiastic “good morning, sir”.
Though this may have been an ordinary act of respect for Aidan Evert, 9, and other pupils at the school, it so impressed Jansen that he used the gesture as the foundation of his address at the launch of Muir’s 200 Life Lessons Booklet, issued to mark its 200th anniversary.
Jansen said Aidan’s manners were a reflection of the school and those around him.
“This young boy stopped, waved at me and said ‘good morning, sir’ and I wanted to cry.
“He wasn’t born like that. He was taught to be like that.
“You are not born racist, sexist or xenophobic — somebody has to teach you right from wrong.
“Somebody has to teach you to love.
“This boy made my day because he looks at a stranger and says good morning,” Jansen said.
Addressing the class of 2022, Jansen said he had no doubt that Muir College had some of the best teachers who would teach them the best academic subjects.
However, he said, he was more concerned about the pupils being taught to be decent human beings who respected all people.
Jansen complimented the school on its excellent academic performance and urged it to instil good human values in its pupils.
“Muir College, you have the best teachers in this country.
“Your NSC results always look good, but teach these boys to be decent.
“Teach them the power of respect and that it is better to give than to receive,” he said.
Muir’s 200 Life Lessons Booklet is a collection of lessons shared by old Muirites and other inspirational South Africans.
The book launch is just one of a host of activities taking place at the school as it celebrates 200 years of excellence with six days of festivities.
Muir College principal Robin Stephenson said Jansen’s words went to the core of what the school continuously emphasised and strived to improve on.
For 200 years, Stephenson said, Muir College had carried its core values such as the quest for excellence and human decency.
“For me, it’s about educating these young boys and preparing them for life after school.
“Balance is important at Muir and our pupils understand its importance.
“This celebration of 200 years is also an opportunity to sensitise our pupils to the importance of sacrifice, as Professor Jansen emphasised,” he said.
He said it was inspiring to witness former Muir College pupils returning to give back to the school by sharing pearls of wisdom with the young pupils.
“It’s been uplifting for the boys of Muir to see the passion in the old boys.
“There’s something that brings them back here and makes them speak so fondly of the school and it has to do with their experience here.
“This is not a perfect institution.
“We deal with matters every day but we educate our young men and I’m very proud of the way they treat people,” Stephenson said.
He said Muir prioritised inclusivity to correct the former Model C school’s past mistakes.
The celebrations began on Wednesday with a career symposium and an Old Muirites golf day and prize giving.
On Friday, the school will hold a business breakfast followed by an assembly, a war cry, a reunion of old boys who stayed at NC Dugmore House and an SA Rugby Legends coaching clinic in the afternoon.
Saturday is reserved for day one of the Muir College 200-year rugby festival and a gala dinner.
On Sunday, a remembrance and thanksgiving service will be held in the morning, followed by a spit braai in the afternoon.
The second day of the rugby festival will wrap up the programme on Monday.
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