St James' community of enquiry

The shuttered Joburg school anchored its philosophy in stillness, love and self-awareness.

- By Mark Potterton

A year ago, St James School, which was housed in a beautiful heritage building in Belgravia, Johannesburg, closed its doors. The urban degradation and high crime rate in the neighbourhood had taken their toll.

Last week, I met with John Curle, the inspiring principal who had run the school for several years and had the unenviable task, together with the school board, of closing the school.

I got to know Curle as an innovative school leader in the neighbourhood and beyond. Curle reminded me that at the heart of St James School was a profound vision: "To nurture individuals who see themselves and the world through the lens of unity and boundless potential."

He explained that the school’s ethos was rooted in the belief that all life shares in a universal essence, a consciousness described as love itself. St James cultivated an environment where character building was highly prized, facilitating the discovery of students' innate gifts while honouring the soul's call for truth in the unity of all existence.

In our meeting, Curle explained: “At our school, the understanding was that every child arrived into the world, whole — pure, perfect and complete - their nature carrying within them the light of truth, consciousness and bliss. What they needed was the right care to help that light to shine.”

Curle explained that one of the core values, which is stillness, was sustained in an environment carefully crafted to reflect harmony, beauty and purpose. He also related that the parents and family were very important at the school, and they too were encouraged to create an environment where children thrived.