The fortune of others...

'How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it except the pleasure of seeing it.'
(The opening sentence from Adam Smith's Theory of Moral Sentiments)

In George Wyllie's view this precursor to Smith's more famous Wealth of Nations deserved to be more widely known and had much to tell us. Published in 1759, it seems it still does.

When he took his Paper Boat to America and moored it outside the World Financial Centre, Wyllie read this opening sentence and asked the banking industry to consider it. His request was published in the Wall Street Journal, but as the world knows to its excessive cost, the prophetic request went unheeded.

We're back in the office today working on the website for the schools, the section on the 'Voyages of the Paper Boat' and the section on George Wyllie's writing. Lots to think about.

In the meantime, the emails keep coming and it's a delight to hear about the practical while working on the theoretical...

P5 in All Saints PS, Greenock got their article written for Cloch Housing's newsletter and they will have more to tell us next week about what they're doing to ensure that the Monarch of Auchmountain Glen is restored. As one of the pupils explained yesterday, the 'old people are upset' about the sculpture being vandalised. The young pupils are taking pleasure in seeing it all sorted out, for everyone.

P7b at Kilbowie is now preparing to teach other pupils in the school about George Wyllie so that they too can enjoy a trip to the exhibition with them. They're taking a great deal of pleasure in making sure the other pupils experience the things they've been enjoying.

AH Art & Design in Strathaven are finishing off their audio recordings so that visitors to the exhibition will have that extra facility, taking pleasure in creating the soundtrack just so others can hear it and share what they've learned.

P4 at St Fillan's PS, Renfrewshire, now has responsibility for the artwork on two of the question marks to be sited in the Clyde. As part of being a Rights Respecting School they're thinking of using the art on their question marks to raise questions about children's rights around the world.

So, as we've worked on the theory today to explain the ideas behind some of the artwork, the pupils have been out there putting it into practice and it really is a pleasure to see that.