Forward July 2015 | Page 24

SENIOR SCHOOL The bigger picture beyond STEM I believe it is firstly education, then travel, that broadens the mind. It is a claim I am happy to substantiate as a teacher who has also enjoyed travel to some of the world’s best known cities and their attractions. This edition of Forward presents a wideranging collection of School events and activities. The articles illustrate our boys’ extensive endeavours in Drama, Music, through Languages, Fine Arts, visiting composers, as well as imaginative exercises such as the Da Vinci and Mandurah photographic competition. Resourceful and inspired thought continues through the establishment of the Guildford Grammar Agricultural Society, a Guinness world record attempt, and the deliberations of the Theological Society. Guildford Grammar School proudly lays claim to a broad-based, individualised education and there is much to celebrate in this style of schooling. Not only do all students have the opportunity to experience an education formed in a broad offering of all subjects and disciplines, but they also Dr Clayton Massey have the chance to find their passion in the process, and pursue it. The strength of this approach lies in the breadth and depth of the educational landscape. Our boys experience everything from the athletic to the mathematic, from the scientific to the creative, as well as the historic and the cultural. Coupled with this is our focus on excellence, ingenuity, individuality and skills for the twenty-first century. The current educational ‘flavour of the month’ is for a strong focus on STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths; the unthinking outcome of which could easily be the loss of many of these skills, and especially creativity. Proponents state that experimenting in this realm is the foundation of innovation. No one would object to any focus on ‘smart thinking’, rather, I believe there is a necessary counter-balance with the artistic, the humanistic, and especially the pursuit of creative possibilities. The simple fact is that almost every “wonder of the world”; modern, ancient, natural or manmade, I have ever visited is now used for a different purpose than that for which it was created. From Stonehenge to the Pyramids of Giza, time has reinvented their purpose and the call of the creative – to think beyond original design, has been central. STEM might have built the pyramids; however ingenuity sustains them. Travel teaches us to think big, and that clever engineering can overcome impossible problems; however a good education provides the first opportunity to explore a world of possibilities. Dr Clayton Massey Head of Senior School Hasluck Leadership Award Last year I was lucky enough to receive the Hasluck Leadership Award and be invited on a trip to Canberra with Member of Parliament, Mr Ken Wyatt. The road to receiving the award involved me being nominated by a teacher, sending my application form into the School and hoping to be one of its two representatives. I was picked, along with another boy, to attend a Hasluck Leadership workshop along with numerous students from other schools. We were required to present a five minute prepared speech on a certain topic, answer various questions regarding our application form and finally, present a two minute impromptu speech on a random topic. I was lucky enough to be selected, along with a student from St Brigid’s College, to be the 2015 recipient of the Hasluck Leadership Award. The experience was incredible; not only was I able to meet and talk with politicians from across the country, but I also had the opportunity to visit some amazing places and be a part of a once in a lifetime opportunity. We had around 20 meetings a day with politicians from across the country, including current Prime Minister, The Hon Tony Abbott, often running from one side of Parliament House to the other in order to get to our meetings on time. We had prepared various questions t