Colleges responding effectively to the change and growth of knowledge
This recent article in the Sydney Morning Herald http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/lifting-the-lid-on-college-life-20090915-foli.html was originally forwarded to me by a former student of St Mark's and I have read the many responses, in particular those of my Colleagues at Trinity College Melbourne and St Andrew's in Sydney.
It is certainly a mistake to see the world of university residential colleges in general, as similar in content and tone to that which Alexis Carey argues, but equally a mistake to blindly defend where there may indeed be room for change. For example, maintaining tradition for tradition's sake - and indeed many College traditions can be seen as 'defending the indefensible', or as Oscar Wilde said (of fox-hunting) "the uneatable pursued by the unspeakable". Whilst an acknowledgement of one's history and traditions is important - revisiting history in that sense can, and should only serve to ensure that history does not repeat itself.
Australian university residential colleges still offer education as well as pedagogy in that many colleges also seek to provide working examples of tolerance of difference and non-discrimination. If a College refuses to accept that responsibility then they may find difficult in relating to the 'real world.'
In applying this further to College life, it is also Oscar Wilde that said "Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember that nothing worth knowing can be taught." There is a wide body of evidence (including a recent Harvard study) that supports the notion that the best learning at university occurs outside of 'the classroom' especially in student residential settings, combined with extracurricular activities. In other words an environment that sounds awfully similar to the one provided by St Mark's and other Adelaide residential colleges. It is just as vital to be engaged with one's peers as it is to study. Colleges aim to cater for both. Inter-college sport, and debating, social functions and 'in-house' activities create a continuing programme of interaction, multicultural exchange, spiritual development, enjoyment, celebration and fun as a community. With the absence of so many of these activities now from University Campuses, the Colleges have an even greater responsibility and role to play in the education and development of young people today.
St Mark's provides an open-minded education that fosters and encourages intellectual and personal breadth, learning through discussion and debate about a range of experiences and ideas.
In a world of rapid change, such an education should help equip the young people today with the skills that they need - skills of being able to master new and changing bodies of knowledge and expertise which have not been previously mastered - and so to be able to respond effectively to the change and growth of knowledge which is and will be one of the hallmarks of this century. A recent survey of Australian Employers showed that it is the attributes of written and oral communication, team work and problem solving that they are looking for. It is these skills that are developed and nurtured through a liberal education that also helps students to understand their specialty in a wider context.
College life can be superb, nurturing and uplifting, but it can be the opposite if shallow and anti-intellectual values are allowed to emerge as a dominant culture. Therefore, at St Mark's we always seek a balance in life which helps and encourages students themselves to maintain a balance so that they achieve to their fullest potential.
Articles such as Carey's remind us that we must maintain a culture of continuous improvement and be ever aware of the tone that we set in our own Colleges.
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