WITH THE WENTWORTH BY-ELECTION AND VICTORIAN STATE ELECTION LOOMING, ONE TEACHER IS CALLING TO END EXAMPLES OF ‘UGLY BULLYING’ IN POLITICS BY CHANGING THE WAY WE DEBATE.

Press Release

18/10/2018                                                                 

Melbourne, Australia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WITH THE WENTWORTH BY-ELECTION AND VICTORIAN STATE ELECTION LOOMING, ONE TEACHER IS CALLING TO END EXAMPLES OF ‘UGLY BULLYING’ IN POLITICS BY CHANGING THE WAY WE DEBATE.

Margaret Hepworth, creator of Collaborative Debating, is teaching non-adversarial debating in schools across Melbourne. She says it is time our politicians learnt it too.

The fresh faces of keen Collaborative Debaters

 “With Primary school students being removed from Parliamentary question time due to the poor behavior of our politicians; with the ‘dirty tactics’ used in the Wentworth by-election; regarding name calling and deriding of an opposing party as acceptable, it is more than high time we changed debating methodology in our schools because this is how politicians were taught to do what they do”, says Hepworth, a teacher of 30 year

Hepworth’s new debating methodology has been lauded in Melbourne schools:

“She is a fabulous presenter with vast knowledge and skills. It was very successful.” Louise Willis, Carey Grammar

“I learnt through Collaborative Debating how much more respectful and beneficial it is to work collaboratively.” 15 year old student

“The idea of Collaborative Debating is much better since it isn’t about fighting the opposition but more about coming to an agreement.”

— 16 year old student

Hepworth is available for interviews, and you can hear from the secondary students themselves, sharing their Collaborative Debating experience, and discussing their desire to see change with current political debate.

“Our young people learn respectful ways to listen and engage with opposing viewpoints. To evolve to be a more inclusive and informed society, we need to change some of the structures by which we learn. Our politicians plan how to tear their opposition down. Why aren’t they planning together how to solve the country’s problems?” Hepworth poignantly asks.

“Collaborative Debating is a useful tool for our community to learn how to tackle the big issues in a way that promotes solutions over winning. This could help our leaders of tomorrow to become more active citizens and thoughtful decision makers.” Hannah, teacher at Templestowe College

Links:

http://www.margarethepworth.com/blog/2018/8/17/collaborative-debating-hear-it-from-the-kids

 http://www.margarethepworth.com

Margaret Hepworth, creator of Collaborative Debating and founder of The Gandhi Experiment

Margaret Hepworth

Margaret@margarethepworth.com

0422 154 875

www.thegandhiexperiment.com

Hepworth is the 2016 recipient of the Sir John Monash award for Inspirational Women’s Leadership

Imagining a more respectful Parliament

#collaborativedebating #conflictresolution #education #innovation #thegandhiexperiment #margarethepworth #wentworthbyelection #victorianstateelection #pressrelease #stopbullyingnow #respectfulrelationships #wentworthvotes

Announcing the Launch of The Gandhi Experiment's Collaborative Debating Manual: A New, Creative Curriculum Strategy for Your Constructive Classroom

Press Release

Melbourne, Australia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A positively new framework for Debating, where the ‘win’ is the solution to the problem.

The Collaborative Debating Manual is the latest educational tool for social change developed by Australian educator and author, Margaret Hepworth, founder of The Gandhi Experiment.

Announcing: Online Product Launch October 24th, 2016

For Schools

Imagine a debate where an Affirmative team is being met with a Cooperative team; a Mindful Coordinator chairs the debate; and a Mentor who doesn’t judge, score or rate, instead meters out a series of Guidances.
Now you have a Collaborative Debate – a debate that may actually get us somewhere beyond the arguments, towards the solutions that we are seeking. These are debates where young people develop skills for real life that move beyond simply learning for the sake of learning. They will take these skills into their homes, their communities and lives.

Product Launch October 24th, 2016:
http://www.margarethepworth.com/new-products/collaborative-debating-manual 

With the Collaborative Debating framework already trialed across Melbourne schools and business groups, this is what people are saying:

Margaret's amazing debating techniques and skilled, insightful facilitation helped us all understand how we can turn a combative, competitive state to one of deep compassion and collaboration. She changed our view of how debating can be done for ever. Highly recommended and essential learning for schools and companies everywhere.
Carolyn Tate, Founder of The Slow School for Business
 
Collaborative Debating is a useful tool for our community to learn how to tackle the big issues in a way that promotes solutions over winning. This could help our leaders of tomorrow to become more active citizens and thoughtful decision makers.
Hannah, Teacher at Templestowe College

In Waleed Aly’s recent address to Media at the Andrew Olle lecture, he called for change in media debates: “the two guests might be talking past each other…We’ve all seen examples where some kind of performed, heated disagreement stands in for an actual debate where people engage each other’s ideas rather than simply roll out their predetermined talking points.”

Collaborative Debating eliminates the adversarial nature of debate. It is designed to teach our young people critical thinking, reflection and cooperation. It is cutting-edge education that builds the framework for change.

Bringing the creative genius of Margaret Hepworth into schools across Australia.

Recipient of the 2016 Sir John Monash Award for Inspirational Women’s Leadership, Margaret Hepworth is the founder of The Gandhi Experiment, a social enterprise, whose vision is ‘World peace through education.’ Her drive and commitment for social justice has grown and flourished through her secondary teaching of 30 years. Margaret is the author of the forthcoming book: The Gandhi Experiment – Teaching our teenagers how to become global citizens. (Rupa, January 2017). Margaret is a former Head of Campus (Vice-Principal) at Preshil School in Melbourne, Australia, and an international educator.

“If our young people learn this as a tool to use in any aspect of their lives – in arguments with friends, conflict at home, tension in a workplace – can you imagine what this would mean for their futures?”
- Margaret Hepworth, Educator and Author          

Margaret Hepworth can be contacted at margaret@margarethepworth.comor on +61422154875 or www.thegandhiexperiment.com. 

The Gandhi Experiment: proudly educating for a non-violent world

Marg Hepworth Hosts Slow School Business Dinner

Marg Hepworth is hosting a 'Slow Dinner' to introduce Collaborative Debating into the world of business.

Held at The Slow School of Business — a business school which prioritises a conscious and mindful approach to corporate culture, the evening hopes to be an eye opening experience. Collaborative debating transforms negotiations from the frame of "winning" into the frame of finding solutions to problems, a communication approach that has very real applications in the business world.

 

The dinner will take place at 6pm on Tuesday 4th of August.

Slow School HQ is located at 13 Lara Street, South Yarra, VIC 3141

This event is fully catered, with food and beverage included in the ticket price.

Tickets are available at collaborativedebatingdinner.eventbrite.com.au