IBSC Southern Africa Conference
March 7 – 9, 2024
Hilton College
Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Listening Loudly: Learning to Listen to the Quieter Voices in Boys' Schools
Boys' schools are bustling and busy; loud and lively; filled with the voices of pupils, teachers, and school leaders. Throughout the day we are surrounded by voices that inform, persuade, and guide us; voices that demand our attention, our time, and our resources. Within the staffroom, in the classroom, on the stage, or on the sports field, it often seems that the loudest voices dominate, capturing our attention and shaping our responses.
But what if we could lower the volume, tuning in to the softer, more subtle sounds—the gentle whispers of the environment; the unspoken messages around us? What if we could expand our listening beyond simply our ears, using all our senses to perceive the deeper meaning behind words? Who and what might we discover in these quieter spaces and how might these hushed voices contribute to the vision of the schools we aspire to become?
Join us as we:
- Facilitate a platform for educators and school leaders to reflect on the voices present within your schools by considering whose voices are acknowledged and whose voices are unintentionally excluded, thereby developing strategies to establish an inclusive space where all voices can thrive.
- Provide opportunities to participate in sessions that enable you to listen actively to your peers and express your own perspectives on topics of personal significance.
- Emphasize the significance of active, empathic, and purposeful listening, which is as crucial as the ability to articulate our thoughts and ideas confidently and effectively.
- Equip teachers with the necessary tools and techniques to empower boys to appreciate the value of listening and to improve your skills in creating an environment where others feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and opinions.