Enrichment
Recently, I had the privilege to attend a series of lectures at the University of Birmingham, specifically directed towards Character and Virtue. One notable Professor, Dr Andrew Peterson spoke about “Moral Polarisation and Service to others: Fostering Fellow-Feeding, Belonging and Purpose”. Traditionally, education had at its heart the teaching of social and moral responsibility; however, over the past twenty years, and more notably over the past five years, this has been fractured within education. Institutions have been reluctant to teach moral, character or virtuous education at the risk of a reduction in academic performance, being labelled as indoctrinating and a pressure on an already crowded curriculum. However, we know that with the pressures of polarisation in society brought on by the rise of popularism, social media, technology and the importance of self, I believe now, more than ever, schools must take on the challenge of educating character and virtue.
As the school heads towards a new and exciting change to its timetable, part of this involves the aspect of enrichment. Students have, over the past week, received information regarding the BMG Enrichment program and are in the first stages of selecting enrichment opportunities. We must re-engage our students’ sense of curiosity, curiosity to learn, curiosity to find out “what’s out there”, curiosity to not only understand self, but also to understand others. Good education awakens understanding and amends the heart. We must, through our enrichment program, have as one of its aims to bridge the moral divide that is happening between students. Have them not just think of themselves, but think of the desire for the flourishing of others. Enrichment delivered in the right way will enable our students to “Fellow Feed” their colleagues. It will enable our Bacchus Marsh community to embrace kindness, respect and empathy whilst, at the same time, discovering something new and satisfying the appetite for the curious. Our new Enrichment Program is a most exciting time in the character and virtue development of us all.
Andrew Perks – Deputy Principal: Culture and Character Education