Gordonstoun has offered the members of Handforth Parish Council training to improve their meeting skills by inviting them to an online event designed to teach students better dialogue skills. Handforth Parish Council gained fame earlier this month when a meeting descended into chaos and members were ejected from a Zoom call by clerk Jackie Weaver.
Gordonstoun’s Principal, Lisa Kerr, said,
“Handforth Parish Council’s meeting revealed an adversarial and unproductive approach to proceedings which is sadly all too common in modern public debate. With role models like that, we are in danger of leaving the next generation ill-equipped with the skills for respectful negotiation too. Many schools have debating societies but this only teaches students how to advance their own viewpoint and win an argument. In order for society to advance, the next generation needs to know how to listen and reach the best outcome for all. This is why we have a Dialogue Society at Gordonstoun and why we are holding the second Dialogue Symposium which is open to schools around the UK. Having welcomed students to Gordonstoun for our inaugural symposium in 2019, this year’s will focus on online dialogue, reflecting how much of our work is now done digitally. We believe this is an important skill which needs to be developed and we would be delighted if the members of Handforth Parish Council would join us; I’m sure they would find the workshops very useful.”
Gordonstoun has a Dialogue Society which is now in its fifth year. In 2019 it held the first ever Dialogue Symposium which was attended by a wide range of schools from around the UK. The second symposium will take place from 6th March and will be an online event. Students will be taught the importance of listening and understanding an opponent’s view as a vital part of resolving conflict and tension
Nicole S was one of the students who took part in the workshops. She studies at Samworth Church Academy which is located in Mansfield, an area ranked as the 25th most deprived in England. Looking back on the experience, Nicole said,
“It was an amazing opportunity with so much potential to do good in the world. It not only allowed me to expand my skillset but also my mind. Meeting people with such diverse backgrounds and pasts was remarkably interesting as diversity is not something we really have here in Mansfield. As a result, I found it quite useful to be able to talk to people who have experienced different lifestyles and cultures and it has given me a lot to think about.”
History and Modern Studies teacher James Beattie from Govan High School, Glasgow attended the last Symposium with two of his students, one of whom went on to gain a place at Cambridge University. He said,
“I liked the fact that the young people had to consciously think about the art of conversation, rather than react to a debate. Both Rachel and Eli very much enjoyed the symposium. As an observer, I was able to see how much confidence both girls gained in developing their verbal skills. Both girls are naturally quiet pupils who would usually take a step back in discussion. What the symposium did was push them out of their comfort zone. I know that Rachel put her experience of the symposium in her personal statement for Cambridge.”
The Principal of Gordonstoun, Lisa Kerr added,
“We believe that dialogue skills are every bit as important in education as French or physics and we want to make sure that as many young people as possible can learn these skills. In recent weeks we have all seen the effects of poor negotiation – from seafood rotting in containers due to Brexit restrictions to a row with the EU over vaccine supply. We now have to pull together to rebuild after the pandemic and successful dialogue will be key to keeping the nation unified and focused in its response. These issues affect all our lives and, if our young people can be more skilled in the art of dialogue, the future of the country will be in safe hands.”
The three-day event will be led by Gordonstoun teacher James Smith who has a Masters degree in Peace and Conflict and was part of the UN peacekeeping mission to Haiti, with other specially trained teachers assisting.
Mr Smith said,
“The art of dialogue is very different to the art of debate. It is not about winning an argument but about critical thinking and understanding your opponent’s point of view so that you can reach the best outcome for all. This requires listening and empathy, essential skills which will help these students throughout their lives, whether or not they choose to become the parish counsellors of the future.”