Calling Academy Interview:

Tell us more about yourself:

My name is Philip Stevens, I’m currently 29 years old and I live in Somerset West.

I hold a Bcom Accounting degree, and I am currently facilitating Computer Application Techology at Somerset College.

I am also the founder of Alpha Accounting. A business aimed at tutoring high school and first year university students in the field of accounting.

I have been responsible for hosting academic workshops at Somerset College.

Where I was also employed as the Accounting Teacher during the second term of 2023.

Additionally, I hold a cerificate in Higher Christian Living from the South African Theogical seminary. I am passionate about Biblical Studies, Systematic Theology, but my strenghts lie in both Evangelism and Christian Apologetics.

In the past year, I have felt the call towards field of education. And I am presently enrolled for a PGCE at Mancosa, which I will complete at end of 2024.

Why are you passionate about teaching CAT and which aspects of it do you enjoy?

I am passionate about CAT because it is equips learners with a the required soft skills that give them a competitive advantage in the respective fields that they enter.

Not only are students to trained to work quickly and efficiently with while incorporating techonology. The soft skills acquired in CAT can be applied to every career path.

Whether that be field of academics, where students are expected to present research using appropiate document layouts and referencing in Microsoft Word, or using Advanced Excel skills in the field of Auditing as they prepare budgets or financial statements.

The soft skills taught in CAT ought to be appreciated, and that is one thing that I appreicate about Calling Academy. In that they have appropiately responded to the digital revolution, and have made CAT a compulsory subject for learners between grades 10-12.

What value can you add to the school apart from academics?

Outside of academics, there are two things about Calling Academy Stellenbosch that excite me. The first being that they accomodate for learners from less priviliged backgrounds, and the second being that they provide connect groups with a Christian Foundation.

Although I work in the field of education, my heart has always been to both reach the lost and to build up the body of Christ with the gifts that God has entrusted to me.

I have worked closely with instutions such as Ad Luchem Ministries, and particularly Ratio Christi. Where the director Simon Brace has encouraged me understake starting a chapter in heart of Stellenbosch that aims to equip Christians in defending the truth of Christianity in a postmodern world.

Not only creating an enviroment for students to be established in biblical truth, but train learners to love the Lord with their mind - a bibical command. Exploring the intellectual reasonableness of their faith, from a historical, scientific and philosopical perspective.

But the primary aim is always that of discipleship and mentoring students to grow them into maturity both in their Christian Faith and personal life.

Other than that, I am also a passionate entrepreneur and if provided with an opportunity I would like to help teach learners to build their own businesses.

Although I am extremly passionate about education, I have found that the South African Education system has failed its learners in that it does not adequately prepare learners for the economic climate they will enter upon completing their education at both high school and tertiary level.

Whether that be to the poor training they received at the hands of teachers, or the economic climate of South Africa. My hope is to equip learners with the practical skills and critical thinking required to make a difference not in their own family lives but to make a positive contribution South African society as a whole.

Additionally, I am a capable guitar player and would be happy to teach learners how to play the guitar. If you would permit me, I’d be happy to show you a small guitar video for your entertainment.

Hypothetical situation:

With respect to the hypothetical scenario, there are a couple of steps I would like to follow:

Firstly, I will seperate the two boys and settle the classroom enviroments and see whether or not the boy that was struck is injured.

After regaining control of the classroom, I will consult with both the students privately - to understand why the event took place in the classroom.

Secondly, I will consult with surrounding students who witnessed the event taking place to ensure that which was communicated with me privately was accurate or not.

Thirdly, I would need to consult with the school’s displinary code of conduct to ensure that the disciplinary action taken is appropiate.

Forthly, although there are pshcylogical factors that need to be taken into consideration such behaviour cannot go unpunished. Depending on what the disciplinary code outlines for assault, detention would be desirable.

Lastly, after the appropiate disciplinary action has been taken I would make an appoinment with a Senior Member of Staff, preferably the Deputy Head and appoint meeting where we will strive towards bringing reconcilliation between the learners. This is not something we can force, but its something that we should strive towards.

Additionally, if pastoral care is availible at the school I will refer both boys counselling.