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Latrobe CEO goes back to schoolLatrobe City’s Chief Executive Officer, Richard Hancock, returned to school at Yallourn North Primary School on Wednesday as one more than eighty business and community leaders taking part in the ‘Principals for a Day’ program. By Latrobe City Council - 25th August 2003 - Back to News Mr Hancock joined Chief Commissioner of Police, Christine Nixon; author and chef Gabrel Gaté; 774 ABC announcer Jon Faine; editor of the AGE, Michael Gawenda; and CEO Telstra Corporation, Ziggy Switkowski, as Principals for a Day at primary, secondary and special schools throughout metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.
The Principals for a Day program enables business and community leaders to experience first hand the issues facing schools; to meet with students, staff and the wider school community; to discuss common interests in management and leadership, and develop an ongoing relationship between themselves and public education based on shared knowledge and understanding.
Mr Hancock said the experience was a great reminder to those in leadership positions that their focus must be on creating the sort of future our young people deserve. "Young people look to those of us in leadership positions to set an example and be prepared to seek their input in our decision making processes," Mr Hancock said.
Asked what sort of questions the students had asked, Mr Hancock said he had an opportunity to talk directly with Grade 5/6 students who had asked a range of pertinent, topical and thought-provoking questions, which demonstrated that they were aware of local issues.
"The questions included what things I looked for when I came into the school, how much training I did for my job, whether I favoured one town over others, whether I have any other jobs, what sort of things I think about when I try and plan for the future, and whether I get the blame when things go wrong," Mr Hancock explained.
Mr Hancock said he was highly impressed with the commitment of teachers and all of the support staff and volunteers at the school. "I was also very impressed with the management skills that were demonstrated by the Principal, particularly in terms of developing good teams, demonstrating clear leadership and utilising a range of skills such as communication, negotiation, consultation and conflict resolution," Mr Hancock said.
When asked how schooling differed these days from when he was at school, Mr Hancock said there seemed to be a much higher level of parental involvement directly into the school program. "It seems less regimented, more flexible in terms of how students learn, and there seems to also be a range of development opportunities that I don’t recall being available to me; for example, being involved in a greenhouse program, having a school garden, and the availability of technology and computers. Obviously these programs will help today’s students move out into business and the community when they leave school," Mr Hancock said.
"One of the things that struck me on the day was the similarity between my job and the School Principal’s job in having to manage a very wide range of issues that include differences of opinion, different objectives and the need to find a way to work together to towards a common outcome," he said.
"I also believe that that Latrobe City Council has a very significant role to play in terms of developing a clear vision for the future, promoting sustainable development, investment attraction, and in the provision of services and facilities that our young people need today and into the future.
Mr Hancock said that later in the day, Principals and their 'Principals for a Day' shadows, were invited to a forum, facilitated by broadcaster and author Dr Gael Jennings, held at the Melbourne Museum.
"This was a feedback session to allow participants to report their findings. It was interesting to note that speakers had all thoroughly enjoyed their day. While experiences varied, depending on what type of school the Principals for a Day had visited, there were several common themes.
"The Principals for a Day all agreed that they admired and respected the job our schools undertake in providing the skills children need for the future, and discussion took place as to how education and businesses can work even better together to achieve this," Mr Hancock concluded.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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