Using curiosity: Philosophy success

Philosophy Club and more

Northcote High School has a great Philosophy program and there has been plenty going on lately. During the last school holidays, two of our top year 11 Philosophy students – Ethan Katsos and Callum McGrath – were given the wonderful opportunity to attend the McWhirter Conference. The Conference is traditionally run in the UK at Oxford University and this year they expanded to include the University of Melbourne as part of the event. The conference explores philosophy and politics and the theme for this year was ‘the limits of free speech’. Ethan and Callum spent two days at the University of Melbourne, hearing from great speakers, having structured discussions, and were even provided with a free banquet. These are the kind of opportunities that come to Northcote students who focus on Philosophy!

Students do not have to be studying Philosophy in VCE to take up opportunities at Northcote however. Mr Fotinopoulos and Mr Wall run the fortnightly Philosophy Club on Wednesdays at lunchtime in L2. Students that have been involved in the club recently had the chance to participate in the Victorian Association for Philosophy in Schools ‘Philosothon’ – a philosophical marathon. This competition was held at Wesley College on the night of August 13. Northcote students took place in structured discussions known as a ‘Community of Inquiry’ and were scored, not on the responses they came up with, but on their ability to think creatively, cooperatively, and critically. Mila Lawson received the award for being the ‘most caring’ participant in her group discussions and Hannah Bayston was judged to have framed the best philosophical question of the night. Philosophy Club students had the added privilege of hearing from British Philosopher AC Grayling, who recently appeared on the ABC show Q&A. Professor Grayling presented the Philosothon awards on the night, and spoke to our students in his ‘Letter to a Young Philosopher’, address in which he noted that;

“Above all, a philosopher needs a child’s heart: curious, open, eager to learn, ambitious, but welcoming to the genius of others and to the fellowship of humanity in seeking those two great goals: understanding, and the good.” 

This is the spirit in which we do philosophy at Northcote High School, and are looking forward to seeing even more students participate in the array of philosophy programs and activities on offer at the school.