more complex that just being smart . There are many people in our society who are incredibly smart but lacking greatly in wisdom . Wisdom certainly has a rich foundation in knowledge , and in this way I am committed to ensuring our boys build a wide body of knowledge through rigorous exploration of subject disciplines . Traditional subject areas provide us all with the foundation to think well . This is critically important in an age where seemingly everyone is an expert via social media and we are increasingly plagued by poor and wrong thinking in the public space .
Furthermore , by exploring the great thinkers throughout history , our students can grapple with the big ideas of life that have challenged the greatest minds in history . Ultimately , I am passionate for all students to be exposed to questions that challenge them to think about ultimate reality , truth and things of value . As we know ‘ everything is permissible , but not everything is beneficial ’.
If our Scotch men are to be the leaders for our world that we need them to be , they need to possess wisdom . Wise leaders think well and this in turn enables them to argue respectfully and intelligently for a position they hold . Wise leaders do not seek to cancel knowledge ; instead , they learn from the past , and make decisions that are grounded in something deeper than personal gain . Wise leaders make the right decision , not the one that will gain them popularity .
Wise leaders have perspective , are great listeners , have read widely and demonstrate great humility .
2 . The culture of a school can have far-reaching formative effects on its students , beyond those imparted by the curriculum or individual educators . What are those aspects of the culture at Scotch that you would like to see preserved , and which would you hope to see evolve under your stewardship ?
Ultimately , I do believe Scotch is a community that should be committed to giving back to society . As a school I believe we should be leading in a way that is not about ‘ look at us ’ but about how we can support others in what they are doing . How can our expertise support others in their context ? As a leading school , we want to be leading positive change in all that we do .
Scotch has a culture of excellence that we wish to retain and further expand . Our achievements in so many areas are of an exceptional standard and a credit to the boys and staff . I do think our Christian heritage distinguishes us from so many schools . Whether Christian or not , the Christian worldview has played such a pivotal role in the formation of Western civilisation and underpins our laws and societal structures . Although the Church has made its fair share of mistakes over the years , I believe the teachings of Jesus are as relevant today as ever and provide a foundation for living a life of hope and purpose .
www . scotch . vic . edu . au Great Scot 5