Rupert Standley gained much more than he first expected when he became an ethics volunteer almost a decade ago. He credits his volunteering experience with helping him return to the workforce. Here’s Rupert’s story.
When my eldest started Kindergarten in 2017, I didn’t quite know what to expect from our local primary school – either for him as a student or for us as parents.
Not long after he started, an opportunity to help with reading classes opened up for parent volunteers, and I decided to get involved. To an office worker like me at the time, a classroom of kindergartners looked like organised chaos. But I loved it. I loved seeing the kids explore new topics and perspectives through the medium of books and games.
Two years later, another parent gently ‘encouraged’ me to get involved in ethics to help plug a volunteer gap at the school. Truthfully? I was reluctant.
But I thought back to those reading groups and figured this could be a great way to help my son, support the school, and even test the waters of becoming a teacher as I considered returning to work from my stay-at-home Dad duties.
At the time, I thought ‘ethics’ just meant debating which track a runaway trolley should take; I hadn’t given it much thought in a primary education environment. If I am being honest, choosing Ethics for my son was initially more about not wanting him to pursue the alternatives.
But as I went through the training and started running classes, I received an education of my own. I quickly realised the huge value this program brings to our little people. We weren't just talking about abstract philosophy; we were teaching everyday, relatable decision-making.
Rupert
We were embracing critical thinking, largely through storytelling that the kids absolutely loved, and we were teaching the art of respectful disagreement. Since then, I couldn’t be more convinced of the benefits of the program.
Today, as a Coordinator, I work alongside eight incredible teacher volunteers. We cover every year group at our school. We are a committed group of parents and supporters who deliver classes consistently each week, supporting the program and one another where we can. We receive excellent backing from our school, and I am proud to say that the families who have selected the Ethics program for their children now represent a significant majority of our school community.
When I finally did return to the workforce, it was actually my experience as a Primary Ethics teacher and Coordinator that helped me land a job as a Road Safety Workshop Coordinator for high school students. It also gave me a profound appreciation for what our primary school teachers do every single day. I was in awe of them — even if I ultimately decided classroom teaching wasn’t my permanent calling!
I am incredibly grateful to Primary Ethics for the benefits it has provided me and my family over the years. But more than that, I am proud to be involved with a program that equips our young people with essential life skills in a familiar, supportive environment.