Great Scot Archive
Issues from 1998
Issues from 1998
 
 
 
 

Publications

Editorial

WORDS: Mr Tim Shearer Editor, Great Scot

Scotch’s coat of arms is as appropriate today as it was in the 'Roaring Twenties'.

The Scotch College coat of arms is an enduring, and endearing, symbol of the school, and it appropriately encompasses many aspects of the school itself.

The burning bush is the coat of arms of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria and, in this sense, represents our origins and our Christian faith. The crown represents our links to the Commonwealth of Nations and a sense of loyalty. The Southern Cross represents the state of Victoria and patriotism. The torch represents the flame of learning and the lymphad indicates the bold spirit of adventure.

We have chosen these final two elements of the coat of arms – learning and adventure – as the theme for this edition of Great Scot.

These two elements of the coat of arms are perhaps best reflected in today’s teaching methods. The days of copying slabs of information from a blackboard into exercise books are, thankfully, well and truly in the past. Teaching practices are constantly evolving and, in many instances, are becoming more experientially based as teachers understand more and more about students’ different learning styles.

No two students are the same or have identical learning styles. This sense of individuality and difference obviously presents challenges for today’s teacher who must be flexible and adaptable, first to recognise the various needs of his or her students and then to cater appropriately to them. Learning becomes an adventure for all concerned!

On pages 4 and 5 the Principal outlines his strategic vision for the school. Among other issues his report articulates that Scotch will be a school which offers a distinctive character of education built on the traditions of our past (the crown and the Southern Cross), our Christian belief (the burning bush), our strong academic focus (the flame), and our confidence in embracing innovation and progress (the lymphad).

It is pleasing to see that our coat of arms is as appropriate today as it was when it was conceived in 1924, and it appears that it will continue to be an enduring, and endearing, symbol of Scotch for many years to come.

Updated: Monday 24 June 2013