IBSC Conference & Melbourne Mini Break

Updated 16/7/12

I've been in Melbourne for the 19th Annual International Boys' Schools Coalition Conference on 'Unearthing Creativity' this week and have stayed for a  few extra days holiday with Gill before returning to Sydney on Sunday.


As some readers may know, I was co-presenting a workshop at the Conference entitled "Sparks in the Classroom: Creativity in Philosophy & Religious Studies"' it was a great success and we had some really positive feedback.


I will put together an extensive post soon with lots of photos, including some of the Conference Dinner which was in the Members' Dining Room at the MCG.

There were approximately 500 delegates from 12 countries; our workshop had a modest attendance of around 14 delegates. Here is the blurb from Conference Guide:



sparks in the classroom: creativity in philosophy and religious studies

JEREMY HALL, HEAD OF PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES, NEWINGTON COLLEGE, AUSTRALIA

DYLAN BARTLETT, TEACHER OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES, NEWINGTON COLLEGE, AUSTRALIA

MARK CASE, TEACHER OF PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES; HOUSEMASTER, NEWINGTON COLLEGE, AUSTRALIA

Newington College is one of few schools in Australia which has brought together Philosophy and Religious Studies under one umbrella, creating an integrated curriculum from Years 7–12. It has also established a Centre for Ethics, with a series of public lectures and regular workshops for students and teachers. It has done so fora number of reasons: 


1.  A belief that an authentic education addresses the ‘whole child’ and must therefore engage directly with students’ questions about meaning, value and purpose, and introduce them to religious and nonreligious philosophies, giving them the knowledge and skills to explore their own beliefs and values.

2.  There is growing evidence that a philosophical education brings not only academic benefits, but emotional and social maturity.
3.  The explicit teaching of Ethics and Critical Thinking helps equip students to engage with many emerging issues such as global warming, world poverty, bioethics, the effects of globalisation and information technologies. This is recognised by the Australian Curriculum, which has included ethical behaviour, inter-cultural understanding and critical and creative thinking among its general capabilities.
4.  In an age of sound bites and easy rhetoric, a healthy democracy needs to raise citizens to think and judge independently, equipped with the skills of critical thinking. 
5.  Such an education is a potent defence against the twin dangers of relativism and dogmatism.


This workshop will present the vision for Philosophy and Religious Studies at Newington College – the rationale for the subject and examples of creative pedagogy. The presenters will share examples of curriculum planning and a range of class activities, encouraging active participation from delegates.

 Scotch College, Melbourne

Short video of part of the grounds of the highly impressive Scotch College.

With some colleagues outside the Members' Dining Room at the MCG for the Conference Dinner, where I sat next to the Headmaster at Eton College and ate haggis (which was actually pretty tasty).

Next post: Melbourne Mini Break (including three of the most amazing meals I've ever had!).