Manifold House

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Manifold House is one of the oldest houses of Geelong Grammar School. At present the Housemaster of Manifold House is Mr Hartley Mitchell.

Mr Hartley Mitchell is known for inimitable, short but penetrating house reports often discussing wider educational policy. An excerpt from his 2002 House Report in the Corian reads: 'Resilience' has become a favourite word of writers about education. Facing epidemics of depression, drug taking and youth suicide it is not surprising that such a catch cry has been taken up by so many. It is a natural response to want to give young people the self-esteem necessary to survive the storms and temptations they will undoubtedly face. The required strength, it is widely suggested, arises in large part from appropriate relationships with adults, both at home and at school'. He continues to disparage this theory arguing that this theory when applied to practice 'there is great divergence. So much so that many young people are forced to find their own strength independent of the confusing rumble coming from adults around them'. Instead he seeems to suggest that it is sometimes the result of these connections which causes confusion among students.

He similarly took on a tough topic in the 2003 Corian; a year which the House did well in terms of sport and academic achievement. Arguing that academic honours and sporting achievement may dull down the innate curiosity of students, 'students are put through a ringer that produces lifeless good order interrupted here and there by the self-indulgent attempts to capture something more palatable.' He continues, '[t]his is a dangerous situation given that our civilisation, that is all that we know and the ways we have lived together at our best, is founded upon determined critical enquiry'.