The British Humanist Association (BHA) today congratulated the winners of the 2013 annual James Hemming essay competition, which is sponsored by the BHA, the Rationalist Association, and Conway Hall Ethical Society. The top three essayists, all of whom are school-goers, will attend an award ceremony at Conway Hall in Red Lion Square in London in September, where they will receive a number of prizes including cash provided by the Conway Hall Ethical Society, and books and magazines provided by the BHA and the Rationalist Association.
Daisy Jones of Downe House School, Berkshire beat entrants from across the UK, all of whom wrote an essay discussing the famous quotation from Bertrand Russell from his book Why I Am Not a Christian: And Other Essays on Religion and Related Subjects: ‘A good world needs knowledge, kindliness and courage. It does not need a regretful hankering after the past or a fettering of the free intelligence by the words uttered long ago by ignorant men.’
In addition to employing references from the works of Russell deftly throughout her essay, Daisy drew from a number of sources, from philosophers to historians, to argue her position that, ‘Being stimulated to participate fully in the world, to contribute skills, good qualities (including knowledge, kindliness and courage) and drive offers a potent deterrent to a feeling of isolation, an antidote to the opiate of reliance on ancient texts as a guide to how the world should be experienced.’
BHA Head of Education Sara Passmore said, ‘Students from all different backgrounds and from a mixture of independent and state-maintained schools participate in this competition, and we were greatly impressed with the high standard of entries we received across the board. In particular, we were delighted to see from so many of the essays, not least the winning entries, was the ability of these young people to think critically about life’s ultimate questions.’
Second place in the competition was awarded to Sahar Abas of Kingsbury High School, Brent, and third place to Agata Siuchninska of St. Leonards-Mayfield School, East Sussex
Notes
For further comment or information, contact Sara Passmore on 020 7324 3060 or 07795 412765
Read the winning essays:
First Place: Daisy Jones, Downe House School
Second Place: Sahar Abas, Kingsbury High School
Third place: Agata Siuchninska, St. Leonards-Mayfield School
For more information on the prize and details on how to enter please visit http://www.hemmingprize.org.uk/
About the British Humanist Association
The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.
About Conway Hall Ethical Society
Conway Hall is a landmark central London venue, owned and governed by South Place Ethical Society, an educational charity whose aims are:
• The study and dissemination of ethical principles based on humanism and freethought;
• The cultivation of a rational and humane way of life;
• The advancement of research and education in all relevant fields.
About Dr James Hemming
Dr James Hemming (1909-2007) was President and later Vice President of the British Humanist Association, a frequent lecturer at the South Place Ethical Society and an Honorary Associate of the Rationalist Association, which publishes New Humanist magazine. He was a dedicated teacher and educationist, a distinguished educational psychologist and a passionate advocate of an education system that would value and encourage every child. His books include Individual Morality, and The Betrayal of Youth.