Annual conference

IBSC (International Boy’s School Coalition) Annual Conference

Pooja Mathur Teacher Librarian

On 29th June 2022, along with Trish Cislak (Crescent School, Canada), and Andrew Stark (Southport School, Australia), I presented a workshop at St Mark’s School of Texas during the IBSC Annual Conference. The title of the workshop was, Using literature to Form and Inform a Path to Manhood, which examined young adult (YA) literature to highlight the roles that identity, othering, and tribalism play in the lives of boys as they develop into young men. Revealing aspects of these societal influences allows for a deep dive into how they can develop, form friendships, and bring their best to their communities. My focus area was “tribalism.” Humans possess an innate capacity to identify and form coalitions with members of their own groups (Packer & Bavel, 2022). Tribalism denotes strong in-group loyalty, connection, and belonging. I commented that St Mark’s students identified as “Marksmen” and similarly, The King’s School students are proud “Kingsmen”–this sense of tribalism and identity is deep-rooted and longlasting. But apart from being Marksmen and Kingsmen, our students belong to various other real and imaginary tribes as well. Recognizing that collective norms can be either positive or negative is a key to understanding why and when tribalism occurs. It also suggests how different groups can find common ground.

I highlighted two contemporary YA novels written by Australians from diverse backgrounds. Bro, by Helen Chebatte, depicts “traditional” tribes based on ethnicity, race, colour, and culture. The novel highlights a romantic rivalry, viewed through a racial lens, that results in a fight that swiftly evolves into a massive race riot leading to various injuries and a death that shatters everyone involved. Through this grief, comes understanding, realisation, bravery, and hope of tolerance and reconciliation, as well as opportunities for discussion on critical issues such as, cultural differences, racial tensions, violence and conflict resolution, effects of social media, immigration, grief, mateship, and belonging.

In The Sidekicks by Will Kostakis, the story is set in a fictitious religious boys’ school. We meet an unlikely and unusual tribe of three boys brought together by a dead common friend, Zac, and the eventual realisation that even without Zac, they are not that different. Miles is a socially awkward nerd and filmmaker, forced to extend himself, define, and find his own identity without Zac. Harley is a rebel, a boarder indulging in alcohol, drugs, and parties, and frequently missing classes. He was Zac’s friend and dealer. Wracked with guilt over Zac’s death, he runs away from school but eventually returns to face the consequences. Ryan is an elite athlete, a swimmer, and Olympic hopeful, but conforming to stereotypes as he is afraid of losing face due to a secret. Zac was his only close friend and confidant. Eventually, with Miles and Ryan’s support, he finds strength to live his true life.

The two storylines brilliantly explore masculinity, manhood, maturity, image, pretence, and pressure to live up to that image. I believe that studying/reading these novels, can challenge and shape selfrealisation, promote sense of belonging, and help to build inclusive communities; all the while assisting our students on their path to manhood.

References

Chebatte, H. (2016). Bro. Hardie Grant

Egmont.

Kostakis, W. (2016). The Sidekicks.

Penguin Australia.

Packer, D., & Bavel, J. van. (2022, January 3). The Myth of Tribalism. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/ archive/2022/01/tribalism-myth-groupsolidarity-prejudice-conflict/621008/