Skilling up for the greater good

A visiting educator has urged Trinity boys to think – and live – originally in order to be of the greatest benefit to others.

Tom Batty, executive director of the International Boys’ Schools Coalition, challenged students at a Senior School assembly to ponder the question: ‘Why bother with all this? School and education?’

“The first reason we educate you is to create a culture of participation. We want to skill you up to do your bit for the greater good,” said Mr Batty, whose 35-year career has included stints at Waverley College in Sydney, as a Housemaster at Eton College in England, and as principal of Scotch College in Melbourne.

“But that’s not enough on its own. If all we do is focus on the skills you need to make a living, then knowledge stagnates and people with it. We need more than that.

“We need you to think originally. We need you to look beyond the current line of sight and think about what might become.

“And to think originally you need to live originally. You can’t just wake up one morning and say, ‘Today I’m going to have an original thought’. You have to live an original life.”

He advised students to play to their individual strengths, and to cherish freedom and liberty.

He also told them: “There is more good than bad (in life). Your greatest asset in living an original life is those people around you. The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are. The challenge is working out just who that could be, to the best benefit of those around you.”

IBSC chair David Ferguson also addressed a Middle School Assembly, and the coalition’s two leaders conducted a professional development workshop with Trinity Housemasters and pastoral staff.

They also addressed the School Council on boys’ education and met principals of NSW state boys’ schools at Ashfield Boys’ High School.

Trinity Headmaster Tim Bowden sits on the Board of Trustees of the IBSC, which represents over 300 boys’ schools in 15 countries, connecting them through research programs and professional development opportunities for teachers.