Teaching character, not just consent
Show notes
Dr Julie McGonigle led a school community through terrible grief after the traumatic murder of a young women on her staff. Her response and that of the school is worth hearing.
In late 2023, St Andrew’s Cathedral School, right in the heart of Sydney's CBD experienced great tragedy, when a young sports assistant, Lilie James, was murdered by her male colleague and former partner. It rocked the whole of Sydney actually, and was totally heart breaking for the St Andrew's community - students, staff, parents, and alumni.
Head of School, Dr Julie McGonigle, led the community through complex grief and trauma and made a commitment that, when the time was right, the School would lead the way in respectful relationships education.
In early 2024 she began this process by commissioning an international best practice review that involved a whole school, adaptive, participatory change. At the heart of her approach was student co-design which was recently the focus of a report in the Sydney Morning Herald.
This area is of serious concern to all communities trying to educate young people, helping them to cultivate healthy relationships and to develop virtue and good character. Life & Faith invited Dr McGonigle in to talk about that and related education topics.
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