Looking to the future!
AT TIMES, as a school Principal, it’s important to cast forward in terms of the future of education in our country and look at where things are going.
The first thing I can say, categorically, is that education is, if anything, more important than ever. Our country needs skilled young people who have a disposition towards innovation and lifelong personal growth and development. We have to be able to adapt and innovate to take our place as a country in a changing world.
Researchers are continuing to show a decline in mental health, especially amongst the young, and especially since the introduction of social media. At some stage, the education system, along with a range of other factors in our society, will need to definitively address this issue and aim to provide guidelines around screen time and the things that are available online. As parents, carers and educators, we will need to be strong around the limits we place on children’s access to screens and devices and get back to the wonders and joys of nature and simple “downtime.”
Coolum State High School has already made a significant investment in health, headlined by the magnificent ‘Wandama Health Hub’ that has supported so many students towards their chosen careers. The health sector is currently the nation’s largest employer and the fastest growing, and it offers so many wonderful career opportunities for our students.
Of so much importance to me is that Coolum State High School continues to be a beacon of excellence in public education and continues to produce graduates at the highest levels. These students invariably become the engineers, health practitioners, educators, artists, pilots and leaders that help to shape our community and define the future.
Another area of significant investment at our school is in digital design, including the use of 3D printers, laser cutters and drones as we leverage technology to make a more sustainable future. The Coolum High ‘Robotics Academy’ allows students to think innovatively and creatively in ways that will be very useful for the future. All of these technologies will only continue to grow, and we need to be able to grow with the thinking that supports them.
Last but not least, there will be an increasing focus on relationships as the cornerstone of wellbeing. In an increasingly technological age, with more online interaction but less face-to-face communication, with more gaming but less playing, more than ever, we need to work with our young people on how we create the relationships that sustain us for a lifetime. There’s a lot to do, and a lot of areas to focus on. At Coolum State High, I’d like to think we’re up to the task!