Should we teach happiness at school?

El Robbo · 10-09-2008, 19:21

Strange though that sounds at first, it's a possibility having shown some positive results in the US, with children performing better in class and less likely to display bad conduct or suffer from anxiety/depression, depression having become an increasingly large problem for younger people over the last few decades.

Call for happiness lessons as teenage depression increases

Given the amount of resource being given towards tackling youth mis-behaviour through the justice system, wouldn't it make sense to divert some towards preventative measures such as this to try to prevent the behavioural problems in the first place?

Mathom · 10-09-2008, 20:01

I used to get the sense that a lot of kids, boys in particular, saw no future for themselves and this is why they got depressed and started to rebel. Who can blame them? Surrounded by and bombarded with advertising and images of bling lifestyles that nobody can hope to achieve, and then you get to 15 and suddenly realise you've wasted what small hopes you had by arsing about for years....

Then on the other hand you get the high achievers who are anxious about everything, about getting a string of A*s to get into Oxbridge, about being 'perfect'. These are the ones who often end up anorexic and some of them go right off the rails.

It sounds woolly, but they do need something to help them learn how to keep mentally healthy.

Saff · 10-09-2008, 20:15

I think it's essential, especially from the beginning. I feel that a lot more investment of energy should be spent in settling children in the younger years, helping them to interact with each other; learn to take pride in their work; enjoy the idea of learning; take charge of their learning; grow in confidence and self esteem etc etc rather than pushing them to get the hang of numeracy and literacy before they may be ready. And definitely no homework unless it's something they very much enjoy.

arachnophobe · 10-09-2008, 20:25

I think it's a great idea, as long as it's not turned into an airy-fairy "doss" lesson. Teaching kids about happiness, wellbeing, forming good relationships etc would be a lot more useful than getting them to memorise battle dates.

El Robbo · 10-09-2008, 20:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saff

I think it's essential, especially from the beginning. I feel that a lot more investment of energy should be spent in settling children in the younger years, helping them to interact with each other; learn to take pride in their work; enjoy the idea of learning; take charge of their learning; grow in confidence and self esteem etc etc rather than pushing them to get the hang of numeracy and literacy before they may be ready. And definitely no homework unless it's something they very much enjoy.

Getting rid of the SAT's would be a good start with that then. I've always thought that something more akin to the Scandinavian model would be far better, although it would require some pretty fundamental shifts in other areas of society, especially our attitudes towards parents taking time out from a career to spend time with their kids - though a lot could be done to help by smarter planning (for example, children's daycare clubs located around areas of towns/cities where people work rather than just where they live).

Saff · 10-09-2008, 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Robbo

Getting rid of the SAT's would be a good start with that then. I've always thought that something more akin to the Scandinavian model would be far better, although it would require some pretty fundamental shifts in other areas of society, especially our attitudes towards parents taking time out from a career to spend time with their kids - though a lot could be done to help by smarter planning (for example, children's daycare clubs located around areas of towns/cities where people work rather than just where they live).

Yes totally agree. We live in a really competitive society but are weilding education like a big stick. Learning is not something you can force on someone- you learn far more when you are interested rather than pressured. I think the whole system needs to change. Instead the gvt is adding more and more ideas and targets like putting a plaster on a broken leg.

DIVA · 11-09-2008, 02:18

Yes, schools have to take on more responsibility in these areas, until the rest of society grows up and realises that we all need to help.

Mathom · 11-09-2008, 06:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Robbo

Getting rid of the SAT's would be a good start with that then. I've always thought that something more akin to the Scandinavian model would be far better, although it would require some pretty fundamental shifts in other areas of society, especially our attitudes towards parents taking time out from a career to spend time with their kids - though a lot could be done to help by smarter planning (for example, children's daycare clubs located around areas of towns/cities where people work rather than just where they live).

I agree with that - I don't understand why nurseries are in such out of the way places, rather than located in the town centres where mum and dad can go in at lunchtime and be with their child.

pk014b7161 · 11-09-2008, 07:39

what if you teach a child happiness & he/she jumps for joy & hurts themself wont the health & safety have summat to say