We live in a world which is becoming increasingly complex. As Fairhills students, our studies are helping us to understand that.
Population growth is predicted to produce an additional two billion people in the world by 2050, less than forty years away. This will produce a huge increase in demand for housing, food, employment and energy generation in a world which is already struggling to adequately provide for the seven billion currently on the planet.
Reducing reserves of physical resources particularly for energy generation (coal, oil, gas, and uranium) will require a transfer to wind, solar and other renewable energy sources which at this stage are more expensive but fortunately less polluting.
Global warming/climate change is definately happening and whether it is part of a natural cycle or due to increasing man made amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, we need to manage rising sea levels and the consequent inundation of inhabited land as well as increasingly violent weather activity. Our country's recent decision to place a price on carbon (or more correctly a price on global stability) is an indicator that we are starting to take our responsibilities seriously.
Global economic systems are proving to be fragile with increasing numbers of people questioning the effectiveness of capitalism as well as communism. The 'Arab Spring' is demonstrating that popular revolt aided by communication technology can result in the overthrow of dictatorial regimes, but we are yet to see if this development results in moves towards stable democracy, balkanisation or anarchy.
These are the Challenges, what is our Hope?
Our Fairhills students (and all the other students currently in schools around the world) are our Hope!
They are the ones who will need to manage and solve these and other challenges. The most capable students will need to develop the skills and attitudes required to be effective leaders during these next forty years. Just as importantly we need students of all nationalities to become good citizens of both their country and the world. In Australia our national (and Fairhills) educational goals are defined as:
All young Australians to become:
- Successful learners
- Confident and creative individuals
- Active and informed citizens
- And this is to be achieved in a schooling system that promotes equity and excellence.
Our Victorian Education System is generally recognised as one of the best in the world and as a consequence we regularly have representatives of other countries and educational systems looking at what we are doing. Fairhills is both fortunate and proud to be part of a system that for two decades has been constantly seeking to demonstrate 'world's best practice' in all that it does. Consequently our School Council, our staff and our SRC are working together to ensure that we provide a future-orientated curriculum and an ethos of continuous improvement in all that we do with our students.
I could continue to write about our Fairhills structures, processes, programs, people and achievements but I don't need to. The attached 'Fairgo' magazine forms a wonderful kaleidoscope of what makes Fairhills Fairhills. My thanks to everybody for the many and varied contributions we have all made to a very successful, rewarding and enjoyable 2011.
Most of you will be continuing with us in 2012. I encourage students, staff and parents alike to make good use of the opportunities available to you to help Fairhills demonstrate hope for a sustainable future and to be an effective participant in finding the solutions for our complex world.
