Great Scot September 2018 Gt Scot_154_September_online | Page 36

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ABOVE LEFT: OPENING EVENT OF THE IBSC CONFERENCE 2018. TOP RIGHT: PRINCIPAL TOM BATTY, APPOINTED PRESIDENT OF THE IBSC WELCOMES
DELEGATES. LOWER RIGHT: DR PETER COUTIS IN DISCUSSION WITH DELEGATES FROM OTHER SCHOOLS.
IBSC Conference 2018:
‘Our Boys, their Future:
Learning to Lead’
Twelve Scotch teachers gathered at the Southport School on the sunny
Gold Coast from 8 to 11 July for the 2018 International Boys’ Schools
Coalition Annual Conference. Built around the theme ‘Our Boys, their
Future: Learning to Lead’, the conference drew 619 delegates from 163
schools in 13 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the
United Kingdom and the United States.
During the conference, Scotch Principal Tom Batty was appointed
President of the IBSC. In his welcoming remarks, he emphasised the value
of the conference as an opportunity for teachers of boys to come together
and share their practices, so that they can better serve the boys they teach.
Scotch staff offered two presentations during the conference. Mr
Batty and Dr Peter Coutis spoke about the Scotch Enterprise Project
and Mr Michael Waugh presented the findings from his research into
transformational learning within the Scotch Services Program, which he
completed as part of the IBSC Action Research Program.
Other highlights included Catherine McGregor AM’s and Li Cunxin’s
keynote speeches, which opened and closed the conference respectively.
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Catherine McGregor eloquently wove together reflections on her careers in
the military and journalism, and her experiences as a transgender woman.
She emphasised the need to know yourself before you can lead, and her
presentation stimulated substantial discussion over the subsequent days.
Li Cunxin spoke about his career in ballet, and attributed his success to
his perseverance and unflagging hard work, rather than relying on talent.
He also highlighted the role that his teachers played in his journey,
particularly his mentor, Teacher Xiao, who saw Li’s potential when others
at the Beijing Dance Academy did not. Li’s comments were a reminder of
the role we play as teachers in inspiring new passions in young people and
helping them to achieve their goals.
Overall, the program provoked a number of meaningful conversations
among the delegates and among Scotch staff about the current state
of boys’ education and directions for future work. It was a rewarding
experience, and we left the Gold Coast ready to improve the education
and lives of the boys at Scotch.
JAMES KEARNEY — SCOTCH COLLEGE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
Great Scot Number 154 – September 2018