Are our ethics and values keeping up with our brilliant technology? - Sheldon College principal

“As another year comes to a close we pause to reflect on the achievements of our students during the 2018 school year.

“While it is relatively easy to report  on the academic profile of our schools, how often do we take the time to evaluate the social and emotional outcomes of schooling? 

“What would we make of our social report card?

“Can we truly measure how our children are really achieving in a world where artificial intelligence has begun its reign?

“Are our ethics and values keeping up with our brilliant technology?

“Can we truthfully say that throughout the 2018 school year we have managed to cultivate a moral compass in our young people that will better prepare them for an unknown future?

“Are we holding our young people to standards? 

“Are we helping them develop a healthy, integrated and inspired identity?

“Can we truly measure the emotional connection we have with children?

“We can certainly measure the cognitive experience, as evidenced in the regime of standardised testing, NAPLAN, OPs and international comparisons, but what of the social-emotional experiences of our children?

“Our 2018 report card should highlight that good schools are values driven, not data driven. 

“Good schools know that if we want to continue to grow healthy, well-adjusted children who are at home with technology, but not addicted to the point that their emotional intelligence and relational skills are retarded, then we have to accept that cognitive learning has to be coupled with human, social and emotional experiences.

“At Sheldon College we fundamentally believe that regardless of the age of the student, it is essential that we truly subscribe to our philosophy of love, laughter and learning. 

“Love must come first because it is a basic fundamental need of all humans. 

“Couple it with laughter and we see the many beneficial effects on the mental health of our children.

“Love and laughter then set the perfect platform for learning, whereby we listen and teach with our hearts as well as our minds.

“Why don’t we ask our children instead as to how well we have performed on our 2018 report card?”

For more information, phone 3206 5555.