JUNIOR SCHOOL SYMPOSIUM
Today it was The Dulwich College Junior Symposium based on movement. This was a whole day doing fun things, but learning too, instead of normal lessons. I had looked at the programme, which was really colourful and eye-catching, so I knew what activities were on offer. We made our way down to the Edward Alleyn Theatre to start the day. Now the moment I had been waiting for arrived. A man, with a bright patterned shirt, came onto
or not. There were two teams – one for and one against. The team for said things like, ‘children our age are drowning in the Mediterranean sea trying to get to us,’ and the against side argued that they come into the country illegally and they don’t want anyone to know and then the government has to pay for them to be looked after. Then one speaker explained about the problems the immigrants face. They can be robbed or
the stage with a drum. He started a beat that made us all feel excited. A few minutes later more people came onto the stage in fantastic costumes. These were Masai dancers who told us they were from
bullied by people but they don’t always call the police because then they might find out that they have entered the country illegally. It made me think how hard it is for people who have to
Review of The Dulwich College Junior School Symposium
leave their country where there is a war. At the end of this we had a vote and ‘letting immigrants in,’ won (for). This was very interesting but sad too. Finally we went back to our classroom and found cardboard shields around the walls. A teacher called Miss Cooke from the Classics Department, which is where they do Latin, came into our class and told us about The Romans and Hannibal, The Carthaginians leader. After the Romans’ first battle with them, the Romans were believed to have 85,000 men and the Carthaginians much less, yet they won the Battle as they were more superior in their tactics. Now we were told that we would be re- enacting The Battle of Zama which was The Romans’ revenge battle, outside on the playing fields. We then made ourselves each our own shield with a design on it. Now we marched onto the field in formation ready to attack the Carthaginians (which were some Upper School boys being elephants with people on top). They charged at us and we moved out of the way for them to aimlessly run away because elephants couldn’t really turn. We then charged on the Carthaginians and destroyed them. This was very, very funny and I really enjoyed it. Everyone was laughing and cheering, including all the teachers and Dr. Grifffiths. At the end of the day I was intellectually and physically exhausted but I had learned so much and had the best fun ever.
Africa. Their dancing was amazing and they really got us involved in it. Some people went up on stage and joined in. It just made me want to move. Next my class made our way back to our classroom where Dr Griffiths talked to us about ‘Mind over Matter’ and how elite athletes and sport players deal with all the pressure that is put on them. We all had to throw pieces of scrunched up paper into a bin together. Then one at a time-to see what happened when you’re under pressure. This was very interesting because it did feel different. After break we were split up into two groups and we went over to the Art Department in the senior school. That made me feel very grown-up. One group made mobiles and another did ‘Drawing through Dance and Movement’ . Miss Griffiths gave us some charcoal pieces and instructions. She showed us how to make a circle all around your body as far as your arms can stretch. We then got into partners and followed the other person’s drawing. This was fun and interesting. Next we went back to the Theatre and started a workshop with Masai dancers. They taught us some dance moves which we copied and put together to make a dance. We asked them some questions about where they came from and they started singing and they also spoke different languages. This was a very fun workshop and I really enjoyed it. After lunch we went to the Great Hall to watch the Upper School boys in a debate led by Kenza Wilks. They were discussing whether should we welcome immigrants
Samuel Waldron, 6R
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