what schools can do to encourage a sense of purpose philip hughes, kingswood college, christian...
TRANSCRIPT
What Schools Can Do To Encourage a Sense of
Purpose
Philip Hughes,Kingswood College,
Christian Research Association
The Spirit of Gen Y Project Began in 2002 With researchers from ACU and Monash Sponsored by 17 organisations Talked with 350 students all around Australia
In schools and cafes In gyms and remand centres In churches and homes
National telephone survey – 1200 young people Web-based surveys of 5500 in schools Parallel study among young people in Thailand
What we found
Reported study in 'Putting Life Together'
Determination of students to put own lives together
Make own decisions Careers Relationships Beliefs & values
Available on book-stall
Over last 40 years we have seen great change
Used to be a consensus about
Occupations for girls
Occupations for boys
About relationships
About what the world was like
Australian Survey of Social Attitudes (2009) found just 50% identified as Christian
Belief in God(including those who doubt and those who believe sometimes)
1969 1989 1993 1998 20090
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
87
6661 61
47
Various Terms Used to Describe the Change
Post-modernity High modernity Prefer 'post-traditional' (Anthony Giddens)
We live in a society in which 'traditions' cannot be taken for granted: where
people feel it appropriate to make up their own minds.
Sources of the Change
Mostly occurred in the late 1960s and 1970s At the heart of the change was the way in which
parents brought up their children Began to seek the children's individual interests
'What do you want to eat?' 'What do you want to play with?' 'Where would you like to go today?'
Can seek to meet individual needs in small families. Not possible in large families where decisions must be made for the whole family
In Schools
We are trying to cater more than ever before for individual difference
Encourage students to think for themselves Encourage creativity
Very different approach to many other cultures, eg Thailand
'Hard to Know What to Believe about Life'
Definitely 16%
Generally 27%
Sometimes 34%
Don't know 6%
Not generally 10%
Not true at all 7%
Based on responses from 3700 secondary students
Easy to be overwhelmed by choice
43% Australian adults confused by telephone plans
50% confused by investment options 38% confused by banking options
Many of us confused by the basic choices of life
'Spirit Matters'(Peter Kaldor, Alan Black & Philip Hughes)
Religious 26%
Spiritual 17%Secular 57%
Many of the 'secular' people there by default
Religious 26%
Spiritual 17%
Something beyond 16%
Don't know 27%
Nothing beyond 14%
Looked at correlates between approaches to life and wellbeing
Used a wide range of measures of personal and social wellbeing
Made a difference Some have a much greater sense of purpose
than others Related to sense of 'belonging' Have a place in the universe
Term of Giddens: ontological security
Sense of Purpose Linked to Many Other Areas of Life
Key contributor to resilience With strong sense of purpose can ride through
the difficult times Make a greater contribution to society
Know where they are going Sense of what is worthwhile Don't give up easily
Contributes to general satisfaction in life
How our personality affects our happiness
Optimism
Self-esteem
Sense of control
Purpose
Neuroticism
Extrovertism
SatisfactionIn life
0.27
0.23
0.21
0.19
Negative
Theory: Robert Cummins;Data: Wellbeing and Security Survey (2002)
How our personality affects our happiness
Optimism
Self-esteem
Sense of control
Purpose
Neuroticism
Extrovertism
SatisfactionIn life
Christian faith
Secularism
What this means ...
Some students have a much greater sense of purpose, optimism, sense of control, self-worth than others
Partly a matter of personality But can be influenced by the school and by the
approach that they decide to take to life
Schools can make a difference
Question of students:
'Since you have been in secondary school, what events, activities, experiences or people have
helped you grow most as a person?
In what ways have these things changed you?'
Factors Contributing to Purpose, Meaning and Happiness
Mental Health
Having passions
BeliefIn a spiritual dimension
Wanting to help others
Purpose,Meaning,
Happiness
Mental Health
Much the school can do to promote positive mental health – positive thinking about life
Contribute to resilience … and more June De Vaus Helen McGrath Catherine Brandon
Interests and Passions
Think positively about life when have interests and passions
'Follow the sparkle in the students' eyes' Peter Cooper Di Fleming Some practical examples:
Human Powered Vehicle Project (Andrew Robertson)
Arts (Bruce Wilson)
Not just any interests and passions
Purpose developed when interests and passions seen as being worthwhile beyond ourselves
Depends on seeing ourselves in the larger world
Sense of a role to play in a larger scheme of things
Basic truth: 'Whoever wants to save life will lose it; but whoever loses life for the sake of the Gospel will find it' (Mark 8.35)
Student worldview
HistoryGeology
Geography
Astronomy
Chemistry
Physics
Astrology
Reincarnation
Psychic power
God
Miracles
Students Want Opportunities to Think and Discuss
Various ways of opening up the big questions
Tim Sprod – philosophy
Graham Rossiter – critique of culture
Chris Middleton – retreats
Julie Perrin and Jeanette Acland – story telling
Jessica Butcher – experiences of other religions
Young People Want to Experience For Themselves
Try out the options of life
Leadership programs that give students the chance to 'make a difference'
Peter Kaldor and Ben Weir
Arron Wood
Task for Kingswood
Listen to the variety of inputs
Engage in discussion – great variety of experience here
Identify what we think is worth trialling
Do further research to see what is working
The Students We Teach Today
Will be the parents of familiesThe managers of businessThe leaders of the nation
In 20, 30 and 40 years from now
The Educational Revolution we need most desperately:
Education for a Purposeful Life
Our Task is of National Significance
'It is essential – if Australian society is indeed to prosper as a unified nation-state until 2050 and beyond – that Australians understand how they will sustain their societal spiritual values in an environment of enormous secular pressure.'
… Societies need an 'overarching ethical philosophy'.
Australia 2050, Australia's Centre for Strategic Analysis