It is our mission at University of Birmingham School that the people in our communities flourish and inspire other citizens to build better communities and a better world.
The ‘Aristotle in Arizona’ project will take eight of our pupils and students from Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5, with three accompanying staff members, to visit three schools in Arizona that have a similar mission – to see the extent to which Global British Values are in fact Global Values, and explore the similarities and differences between our schools.
The pupils, students, and staff will immerse themselves in classical education at three Great Heart Schools within a curriculum built upon a classical liberal arts tradition, and seek to compare and contrast our own Aristotelean neo ethics with their intention to cultivate the hearts and minds of students in the pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty.
Participants will be expected to take part in a live stream across the Atlantic between schools, and the project will continue in the UK with pupils and students creating a short series of presentations based on what they have learnt in their immersion in classical education, as well as what they have learnt about how far virtues transcend continents.
Virtue is practical, so there is little point in knowing what is theoretically virtuous if it is not practised. This opportunity will provide pupils and students with the chance to develop courage, empathy, kindness, and curiosity; to practically engage in global citizenship and social action, and to develop judgement, reasoning, and resourcefulness – life long skills that will help them live a purposeful life.
We were overwhelmed by the number of competent applications submitted during the month of December 2021. We thank everyone who took the time to apply. Our successful applicants were informed in the new year and have been preparing for the project ever since, after taking part in their first team meeting earlier this week.
The project is being funded by the Turing Scheme.
