The Royal Society of New South Wales
Southern Highlands Branch 18th June 2015 Lecture
Mr. Michael Parker
Michael Parker is the Headmaster of Oxley College in Southern NSW. He received Arts and Law degrees from Sydney University
and worked briefly in a corporate law firm before turning his attention to Education. He has a Master’s Degree in teaching
Philosophy to children and has written six textbooks in the areas of Legal Studies, Philosophy in Schools, and English. Formerly
the Deputy Headmaster and Head of the Senior School at Cranbrook School in Sydney, Michael was born and grew up in Sydney.
He went to school at James Ruse Agricultural High School and did Law at Sydney University.
Michael joined the Jane Curry Publishing team in 2012 with Ethics 101: Conversations to have with your kids. A great success, the
book has since been published in the USA in August 2013.The second book in this series, Talk With Your Kids: Big Ideas, will be
published in May 2014, along with a second edition of Ethics 101, aptly renamed Talk With Yours Kids: Ethics.
Michael’s talents don’t just lie in the world of Education publishing. He has had two novels published, including a Young Adult
Novel Doppelganger, which was shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Award in 2007, and a children’s picture book, You Are A Star,
which was published with Bloomsbury in the USA in September 2012
Topic: Ethics and Thinking Program for Schools.
Ethics in schools has been a hot topic for a number of years. What to teach, how to teach it, and what to expect from the young
people are all controversial areas. Is there ever a ‘right’ answer in Ethics in schools? What does a teacher do about an ‘unethical’
child? How do you keep the students interested and not simply pining for lunchtime? Teaching big ideas and philosophy to
students is a related and exciting area for the twenty first century. We all know that the future will value young people for the
way they think and not what for what they already know. So how do you encourage this in a world drowning in more information
than ever? Although primarily a lecture, there will be opportunities to participate and work with the people around you (no-one
will be put on the spot though). Michael Parker will take you through these issues so that you go away with both some more
insights and some more… and perhaps better… questions.
DATE:
TIME:
VENUE:
Thursday 18th June 2015
Doors open at 6.00pm and lecture starts at 6.30pm
Performing Arts Centre, Chevalier College Bowral, enter off Charlotte Street.
PRICES:
Lecture only:
Non Members $10 (RS Members $5)
Following the lecture there will be a dinner with the lecturer which is open to members and non-members Bookings
for dinner can be made by ringing Hub Regtop on 0411192917 prior to the 16 th June 2015