Teaching children to be lifetime learners

MANILA, Philippines - “To what school do I send my child?”

 “This is one of the most important questions parents ask themselves,” says John-D Borra, headmaster of Bannister Academy, as he hosted the school’s first open house recently. And to answer this question, Bannister Academy gave parents a glimpse into a promising future.

The one-of-a-kind open house event allowed parents not only to hear about Bannister Academy’s unique educational approach but also to experience it for themselves.

Liberal education, noted Bannister co-founder Dr. Antonio Torralba, emphasizes the relationships between different areas of learning, allowing students to think more creatively when handling complex real-world challenges. This creates not just good students but lifetime learners who are poised to become leaders in their chosen industries.

Just as importantly, Bannister also ensures that students are made aware of the moral and ethical dimensions of their actions. Bannister advocates social intelligence, said Dr. Torralba, which comes from learning how each of our lives and our decisions affect those of other people of society at large.

Bannister students are able to benefit from Bannister’s optimum class sizes and mentoring program, which allows each student to receive a personalized education that is tailored for each individual.

Janette Toral, founder of DigitalFilipino.com, spoke about the future of digital social media, and how today’s children can use it to change society. Media personality and entrepreneur RJ Ledesma spoke in depth about social intelligence in day-to-day life, while Atty. Fred Mison, president of the Kabayanihan Foundation, brought a larger context to the discussion as he talked about using one’s influence and resources to contribute to the betterment of Filipino society.