LEADERSHIP LEARNING COURSE
St Andrew’s College has introduced a new revolutionary course to its curriculum this term, consisting of four interactive textbooks, entitled Learning Leadership. The course was originally developed in Australia and we are one of the first schools in South Africa to include it in our curriculum.
Gunther Marx, Vice-Principal of Pastoral Care, will drive the course which aims to establish that every pupil can be a leader in some way or other. This develops confidence and a skill which is essential in the work place.
The course will be introduced to all the Grades in their respective vertical tutor groups. This will encourage real interaction across the age groups with the tutors playing a facilitative role in driving the learning process. The course consists of four books of 20 units each - completing the 20 units in each book will equate to about one period a cycle for the year.
The content of the course includes: exploring what leadership is and what it is not, seeks to enhance leadership skills in pupils, provides opportunities for students to discover and understand their own leadership strengths, seeks to inspire pupils through the use of heroic stories, seeks to link theory and practice, and explores leadership within the broader context of character development.
According to the author Dr Tim Hawkes:
“Learning Leadership was written because there is desperate need for authentic leadership and to understand what true leadership is and to develop those leadership skills in the young. Everyone has some leadership potential that can be released for the benefit of humankind. The course is designed to give inspiration and encouragement to students and help them to explore their leadership potential.
A study of leadership is not just a study of power and influence. It incorporates the study of accountability and responsibility. These are two endangered concepts in many who seek a world of growing freedom with growing age. Inextricably linked to the heady joys of advancing age is the chain of advancing responsibility. All young people need to learn how to handle this responsibility both as leaders and as followers.
The young also need to be taught their cultural inheritance, to be reminded of the great myths, stories and legends associated with leaders past and present. All people, be they young or old, should gather from time to time under the shade of a tree and listen to the great tribal stories. Stories need to be told that inspire, encourage, direct and ensure that the value of good example is not lost. We tend to sit our young in front of the television and leave the storytelling to the media. This is not always wise, for often, the stories they hear are inappropriate and destructive of the sort of values we need to be advancing in our communities.
Learning Leadership endeavours to teach the hard bit of leadership. Unless society wants to have generation after generation witnessing inadequate leadership, the young must be taught what true leadership is. There has been a redefinition of leadership. The old style of leadership was based on domination, power and even fear. It was hierarchical, and relied on sanctions to bring followers into line. There has been a change in recent years which has witnessed a demand for servant leadership a style that is based on example that uses personality rather than threat that looks to motivate intrinsically rather than extrinsically.”
For more information on specific units that make up the course and the year by year programme that will be taking place see the St Andrew’s College website: www.sacschool.com link on Pastoral care then Leadership, or contact Gunther Marx at g.marx@sacschool.com
| Arrival Year | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
| Year | ||||||||
| 2007 | Book 0ne | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | ||
| 2008 | Book Two | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | ||
| 2009 | Book Three | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | ||
| 2010 | Book Four | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | |||
| 2011 | Book One | 12(fac) | 11 | 10 | ||||
| 2012 | Book Two | 12(fac) | 11 | |||||
| 2013 | Book Three | 12(fac) |
| BOOK 1 | BOOK 2 |
| Can young people be leaders? | Knowing what you have to offer |
| Leadership: the good,the bad and the ugly | Being a team leader |
| Leadership styles | Power and leadership |
| Power and leadership | Dealing with the powerful |
| Bullies and bullying | Choosing to see, speak and act |
| Goal setting | Assertiveness |
| Problem solving | Strategy and tactics |
| Emotional quotient | Resilience |
| Optimism | Compassion |
| Tolerance | Anger and defiance |
| Cult leaders | managing or leading |
| delegation or passing the buck? | Motivation |
| Believing in something | Learning to listen |
| Leaders who see | developing a vision |
| Leading through music | Taking on the system |
| Giving a speech 1 | Public speaking |
| Giving a speech 2 | Writing that leads |
| Honesty | Causes and convictions |
| Making enemies | Getting involved with State Parliament |
| Making friends | The cost of leadership |
| BOOK 3 | BOOK 4 |
| Strategic Planning | The power of one |
| Motives for leadership | The seasonal leader |
| Self esteem | Humour |
| Dealing with enemies | Helping students of different ages |
| Teamwork | Dealing with difficult people |
| Courage | Helping others to work and play |
| Wisdom | Councelling and caring |
| Initiative | Knowledge |
| Discipline | Persistence |
| Credibility | Proteges and successors |
| Heroes and heroines | Responsibility and accountability |
| Defining moments | Risk taking |
| Becoming a good leader | Creativity and conformity |
| Being a school prefect | Prejudices or discernment |
| Captain, my captain | Dealing with stress |
| Loyalty | Meetings |
| Looking the part | Writing a resume |
| Sight, sound and sense | Interviews |
| By accident or design | Integrity |
| Dealing with failure | Finishing well |
Missing Helen8th May 2012
"Missing Helen" will be St Andrew's College and DSG's Dance 2012 Production. Updates on the preparation and production will be posted here.
Ireland Debating Tour4th May 2012
13 College Debaters participated in the St Andrew's Ireland Model United Nations competition in Dublin.
