Have a Good Life

Dr Briony Scott is an Australian educator and columnist, and the Principal of Wenona in North Sydney, an independent K–12 girls school. Dr Scott has a Masters and Doctorate in Education from the University of Sydney; specialising in girls’ education, technology and pedagogy, motivational theory, and choice in education. Prior to Wenona, Dr Scott was Principal of Roseville College. She has worked as a systems analyst for Italian computer firm Olivetti and spent time volunteering as an Emergency Technician with the Wheaton Rescue Squad in Maryland, US. Dr Scott speaks regularly on educational and parenting issues at community forums and conferences.

• It’s really fascinating to think about leading a school that is focused on one thing, like all girls. How do you see your role differently because of the way your school is structured as an all-girls school?
• Gap of about 2 months pay in gender gap in pay
• You have to be aware of stereotypes.
• How women finally got into colleges for medicine
• You can’t be what you can’t see!
• How can we do a better job of teaching mental health?
• Anything that reduces a person’s agency is an obstacle.
• Recognize what power looks like in a room.
• Mental health itself is neutral, but there are good and bad mental health.
• They’re not allowed to be sad anymore, they can only be depressed.
• Little people look to adults about cues about how to behave.
• Mental health - they’re actually fine, if we create a feeling of doom and gloom
• Pathologizing of adolescnce
• We do an extraordinary disservice when we write off an entire generation.
• Transactional Analysis
• Kids are clever but they’re not wise [[Wisdom]]
• Nous - wisdom
• We’re all just walking them home.
• Renaissance Women’s Network - connecting female education leaders to others.
• We create the world they can aspire to.
• It is massively disrespectful to people with real mental health issues.
• In the desire to listen respect and value people’s feelings, we forget that they have agency.
• We teach the feelings, but don’t teach agency and the power we have over them.
• How to be a transformative principal? Get some sleep.

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