There is nothing that puts a pep in our step more than talking to students about their VCE pathways, especially if that involves a choice of one or more of the five Humanities subjects offered across Units 1 – 4 at OLMC: Accounting, Business Management, History, Legal Studies and Politics.
The annual Subject Expo, held earlier this week in the McAuley Hall, is an opportunity for prospective students to chat to teachers and current students about every VCE subject at OLMC. Humanities is always well represented at this event - along with our traditional lolly basket and colourful displays - everyone makes the most of the time to discuss all things related to senior learning.
It is always fabulous to witness the buzz and absorb the energy at the Expo. Some may feel it is a little competitive, with Learning Areas trying to spruik their subjects as the most positive and popular, yet this couldn’t be further from the truth. The interests and skills of each student are considered in any chat about subject selection. Teachers often direct students to other Learning Areas if they feel the student could benefit from specific advice from English, VCE VM, Maths, Science, Health and Physical Education, Design, Art and Technology or Languages.
Often our student subject ambassadors lead the way with pulsing anecdotes about the subjects they are studying and blood-pumping tales of amazing Humanities content. It is with a great deal of pride that staff watch and listen to their Year 11 or 12 students as they speak about the positives and negatives of studying Politics or History, Accounting, Business Management or Legal Studies.
We often contemplate (and are occasionally asked) why a student would consider a Humanities subject or an Arts-based pathway. Surely, it’s more important to pursue coding, science, digital technologies, mathematics, AI and algorithmic careers and educational endeavours?
We would always advise that the lifelong learner, and the well-rounded, neural-developing student, will have an interest in all that education has to offer, whether it be a fascination with genetics, gothic characters, Renaissance art, muscle growth or Eastern European politics. But we often hear students label themselves as a ‘Maths-Science person’, or ‘more an English and writing queen’.
We try to tap into those conversations and suggest how studying History, Politics, Legal Studies, Accounting or Business Management might work for them - how a Humanities subject might sharpen literacy skills, foster critical thinking, hone writing prowess. How History and Politics might have them reflect on their world, the turbulence and joys, and develop greater understanding of the planet and their place within it. How Accounting or Business Management might awaken a keen interest in people, products, the narrative behind figures, and how Legal Studies might illuminate understanding and empathy across a range of different scenarios and case studies.
Studying Humanities at senior level is not for everyone, but we only need to look at - and beyond - our screens to know that an understanding of these subjects is more important than ever.
AI can help us write. An algorithm can bring narrow joy to our feed, but diversity in our educational pathway can help us understand how to think about complex things - and it is with this in mind that we conduct our Expo conversations.