IPC
paparazzi just doing their job, or are they invad- was ‘heard’. In a world when everyone wants to be
ing people’s privacy? What role do we play as heard do we have the skills needed to listen?
consumers?
Adaptability – With strong links to resilience, to
Morality – Morality doesn’t happen natu- what degree are our children and young people
rally, it is something we are taught from an early at ease with themselves in a variety of situa-
age. Through early childhood, as we also develop tions? It is essential as they deal with challenges
thoughtfulness, cooperation and respect, we are and changing circumstances, that they can keep
taught to distinguish between right and wrong, calm and anticipate and respond positively.
good and bad. We begin to form our own moral There have been a number of recent studies on
standpoints or code and learn how to act on it. the kinds of skills employers are looking for, and
There are strong links with ethics and values and adaptability is high on the list. In the Grade 3
we see the school’s 5 shared values come into play Unit, ‘Young Entrepreneurs’, students are asked
along with the ‘Moral Education’ as laid down by to put together a marketing plan for a product
the Chinese National Education system. Looking they intend to sell. As they go through this pro-
at the role of paparazzi from the previous Grade 5 cess they are encouraged to make changes in line
activity, we ask if it is right or wrong to take pho- with challenges or issues they encounter. It was
tographs of unsuspecting celebrities doing their Charles Darwin that said, “It is not the strongest
grocery shopping? Do these photographers have a of the species that survives, nor the most intel-
moral code? At what point does our moral code no ligent that survives. It is the one that is the most
longer take precedence? adaptable to change.”
Resilience – How do we cope when things do not
go our way? This year’s graduating class have sent
out letters of application to universities around One of the keys strengths of the IPC is that it was
the world and the reality is they are not all going developed with the future in mind. It asked the
to be acceptances. As an individual, how do we questions about the kinds of people that will be
cope with rejection and disappointment? Do we needed in the world of the future and the skills
have the ability to get back up and try again or do and qualities required to be successful. As our stu-
we give up? The reality is not everyone is a winner. dents graduate are they prepared and do they have
Our graduating students will certainly find that the personal skills and qualities that will allow
out when they move out into the world. Mother is them to be successful. The IPC has been very con-
not going to be there to pick up the pieces, there sidered in its choice of personal goals. They are
are winners and there are losers. Are our children embedded not only within the philosophy but also
really prepared for this?
within the curriculum itself. It places these per-
sonal goals on equal par with subject and academic
Communication – Communication is another of
goals. It recognises that learning is holistic and
the key 21st Century skills. It is in all our interac- that a well-rounded individual with multiple skill
tions; verbal, digital and visual. Within the global sets, abilities and characteristics is going to put
domain our children will be conversing and deal- them in a better position as they venture out into
ing with people from all cultures, backgrounds and the world. If ‘manners maketh the man’, then it is
languages: Are they equipped with the skills nec- perhaps the personal goals and individual char-
essary? Children also need to understand that just acteristics that make our young men and women
because something is said doesn’t mean that it successful.
The Keystone Magazine 080