Principal, PLC Sydney
Dr Paul Burgis has been the Principal of PLC Sydney, one of Australia's oldest and best known schools, for fourteen years. In his time as Principal the school has been recognised by Cambridge University for its innovation in pedagogy and architecture linked to learning. Prior to this his roles have included being the Principal of Inaburra School Sydney; running the Master of Arts in Education program at the University of Lancaster, UK, and being the Head of History at Eaglesvale School, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Paul has received recognition for his work, including 'The Norman Baker Award for Educational Achievement', the NSW Parents' Council Principal's Award and 'The Friend of Assyria Award' for his support of refugee students.
His Phd (UNSW) received a UN Millenium Development Goals grant. It examined student attitudes to poverty and development in Australian, Filipno and Zimbabwean schools. Paul is married to Susan and they have three children and six grandchildren.
Paul has written in a number of publications and has recently published a book on critical thinking in schools - 'And, Not, Or, With: the Good in Education'.
Critical thinking in schools is largely based on a 'progress' model. It relies on us all saying that something in the past was 'NOT' a satisfactory way to conduct our lives, and that we need to correct our weaknesses. Karl Popper, Nassim Taleb and others lead this critical thinking paradigm.
My presentation recognises the strength in this position AND states that it is inadequate as a framework. The word 'AND' is also critical to learners. The words 'OR' and 'WITH' also matter.
Using the work of Michael Polanyi and Hans Georg Gadamer I argue that students lose a sense of meaning and purpose in themselves if the focus of critical pedagogy is only on identfying problems and correcting them.
I refer to three powerful metaphors: Education as an act of translation, education as a personal pilgrimmage and education as being like a tree - with many branches to traverse.