The Virtue of Love in Education.
Professor Sabeena Jameel is like no one I have ever met before. I had the privilege of spending some time with her a few weeks ago after an inspiring lecture she presented regarding “Love as the ultimate virtue.” Professor Jameel is Head of the Medical School at the University of Birmingham, still practices medicine one day a week in Birmingham’s poorest suburb and has recently completed a thesis on Character Virtues, and more specifically love. Interestingly, however, modern day society rarely looks at love with the virtuous lens. Apologies to those of you who have a strong non-secular background as you are the exception. Love is deemed within modern day society as an emotion only and the word love has more recently been demonised within education circles. However, education really is about the virtue of Love.
The Italian priest and philosopher Thomas Aquinas suggested that love can be both a passion and a virtue and I think that we should learn from this thought if we truly are to make a difference in education. In the modern world, we tend to think of love only as an emotion, something we “fall into,” something that “happens to us.” There is certainly love of this sort, love that we “feel” and sometimes feel very strongly. But it’s important to realise that this is not the only kind of love. There is also love as a virtue, love is a settled disposition to do good for others, is action orientated and characterised by compassion, kindness and self-sacrifice. Professor Jameel argues that love in education is truly about unselfing and by unselfing and not only thinking about “us”, but we also connect for the good and love becomes service justice and care. Isn’t this what education is really about. Not only the teaching of our students, but also about kindness, compassion and care.
I think it is inspiring to hear colleague’s conversations when they say, “I love my job” or “I love the kids I teach” in an outward display of language in a virtuous context. Love for education and those involved should not be demonised but, in a character perspective, be encouraged. As the year draws to a conclusion, I would like to take the opportunity to wish all in the Bacchus Marsh Grammar community a joyous and safe Christmas and holiday period. It is certainly the time of year to embrace the universal virtue of love and to think of others less fortunate and show compassion, kindness and support.
Andrew Perks – Deputy Principal: Culture and Character Education