Vueti Lodoni

Ni bula vinaka mail Lodonians
Let me cast some perspectives to the subject issue. This will be my only second contribution to our OB forum to date. But I think that it will be pertinent to our endeavor to contribute to assist us implementing a sustainable solution.
First let me state that the problem is not simple and neither is it modern. The problem that existed in a controlled environment in the past has now gone feral and out of control. The problems have now become complexified in a complex modernised environment. The walls of the integrity of the RKS Manna has fallen, and as one of the OB has stated before that the Nehemiahs need to arise to rebuild the broken walls.

In the past years, there was always the rebellion, disobedience, punishment, force, expulsion from school, stealing, bullying, etc. But one thing that contained those attitudes and behaviours was the boundaries set in the heart and minds of the students by the Culture of Lodoni. The boundaries of the culture were secure and was strong which covered up the effect of the negative attitudes and behaviors.
Culture is defined as “The dominant characteristics that determine the environment of the school and enhance and accelerate the productivity of the school’s declared purpose”. The dominant characteristics of RKS was more the intangible values of honour, respect, sacrifice, appetite for hardwork, brotherhood, brother’s keeper, excellence, high achievements, success oriented, manhood. These characteristics translates into high performance in academics and sporting fields. Farming for our own was a given in averyone’s mind. There was no one coming to RKS as a bludger but we were all coming to RKS as young men with potential to succeed and with a trust that the environment of high achieving will translate us into champions. To start discussing about the solution we have to be talking about the culture and values that condition the environment of success. Within that culture, Joji Momo (master Jay) got away with his temperament. Father Rup’s belting was fun and is a part of our rich history. Emitai’s silent intrusion into our personal spaces were heralded as the masterful adventure of Sherlock Holmes and added spices to the culture at RKS. If we have them today it will be certainly be a possible police case of abuse or something. The world is changing and so should be our view and approach to the situations at RKS.

Solution
The solution is not a short term fix but a consistent building up of the values that is part and partial of the culture that breeds success. The technology is changing but the outcome must be the same. The changing world of globalisation will have have an effect on the human behaviours but then we have to be complixified to be relevant in a changing world. We have to build up the intangibles which determines the course of the tangibles.

One African proverb states that a child is raised up by a whole village. The principal and teachers alone can’t solve it. Even the parents can’t do it on their own as the force of the market that drags our young people is evidentially strong and powerful – but can be subdued and overcome by the stronger and more powerful forces of the defined culture. We need to consider the pillars of the development of students at RKS. All these pillars must all exude the same values. Example, the principal and teachers must embody and teach the same values, the coaches must adhere to the same values, so should  the parents, the PTA and OBs association. The values we teach must be consistent. All the above groups of people have to instill the values that constitutes the characteristics of the Lodoni culture with discipline and persistency. Right from recruitment and throughout the year. It will take time but we have to agree now first before we can even attempt for a permanent and sustainable future for the school.

The chapel will not give us these values – in the past we have services in the dining hall but we consistently win the deans trophy, beat every school in athletics, beat schools in cultural presentations, prominent in quizes – in fact in the top bracket in just about anything. It is the culture of success and achievements that we take pride in. Even the chaplain will not give us the values. He just holds up the mirror and we look at our reflections upon the mirror of the prestine values that has made RKS a standard in the past.
Winning the Deans trophy does not give us those values either. Winning the trophy is the by product of the winning culture of RKS which is balanced. In the farm, in classroom, in the playing field, one is surrounded with an environment of high achievement and success. We then will be good citizens of Fiji.

We must not look for the Living in the place of the dead. If we do, we will always come up with the question, “Who will roll away the stone”, without understanding the wholistic environment that determines what is playing out before us. Beating the boys up will not solve the problem. Farming with them can be a means to an end – but the end must be the values that precipitates out of the work. Spending money has to produce first the values rather than just winning a rugby trophy. This is the same culture that sustains us today the OB association.

I’m hoping that we can ascend the stairway of sensible considerations and strategic building for a good future for our school.

May the legacy of our fore runners live long into the latter generations.
To this cause, my brothers I can make commitments

Joe Qalovaki – OB