Children spend 35 hours per week in school. In my practice I have not had a child over the age of 7 tell me they like school in the past 10 years. This is a fundamental problem that we can address now.
1. Children are meant to be children and have some fun in their day. I propose that we ask children if they like school and how much. Then use that barometer for school success with a stick and carrot approach. Children in elementary school by and large say that they could use more recess, more games, and more hands-on learning. I believe that this extends to Middle school in which they are meant to act older while they are still childlike.
2. When children get to middle school, junior high and high school many arbitrary rules are placed upon them, and those rules are enforced strictly. One of those rules is that the school places them in classes, teams, and sections of the schools. In many cases children are separated from friends and do not even see them at lunch time. It makes for a miserable day, for 35 hours per week.
If they end up in classes with a bully or without friends or even with a teacher that they just do not get along with there is no easy avenue for changing this. Instead, they are met with a wall of responses, such as, “We are unable to make those requested changes. Our school policy does not allow it. “We place the children with those from other schools so that they make new friends.” Except it’s not that easy and for some kids and can lead to feeling down, anxious, and can lead them to choosing the wrong crowd by default.
Then they end up in a mental health office and we need to ask the question, in this scenario, is there a legitimate reason for the unhappiness? In the past 10 years I have requested class changes based on being placed in classes with a friend, leaving classes based on a bully, and leaving classes based on a mismatch with a teacher. I propose that making the class request based on the friend and teacher be the new policy (for a minimum of two classes per day and lunch). It would take a bit of maneuvering, but it is a low-cost way of fostering well-being at school.
3. All schools (starting in Middle school on up) should have a wellness area where kids can go if they need a break, a supervised lounge area. They can sit and do their work or take a break from their 7 hour day. They can take a few minutes to regroup. It can also be a triage area where we assess what the problem seems to be for that child. Do they need some support? Do they need to make some class changes? Maybe they legitimately need a break. They also might be a child that could use an alternative plan for education (hybrid model for classes).
4. More flexibility with the teachers and counselors should be encouraged and supported. Where there is a logical solution supporting children should be the norm and old school policies and rules should be revisited.
1. Children are meant to be children and have some fun in their day. I propose that we ask children if they like school and how much. Then use that barometer for school success with a stick and carrot approach. Children in elementary school by and large say that they could use more recess, more games, and more hands-on learning. I believe that this extends to Middle school in which they are meant to act older while they are still childlike.
2. When children get to middle school, junior high and high school many arbitrary rules are placed upon them, and those rules are enforced strictly. One of those rules is that the school places them in classes, teams, and sections of the schools. In many cases children are separated from friends and do not even see them at lunch time. It makes for a miserable day, for 35 hours per week.
If they end up in classes with a bully or without friends or even with a teacher that they just do not get along with there is no easy avenue for changing this. Instead, they are met with a wall of responses, such as, “We are unable to make those requested changes. Our school policy does not allow it. “We place the children with those from other schools so that they make new friends.” Except it’s not that easy and for some kids and can lead to feeling down, anxious, and can lead them to choosing the wrong crowd by default.
Then they end up in a mental health office and we need to ask the question, in this scenario, is there a legitimate reason for the unhappiness? In the past 10 years I have requested class changes based on being placed in classes with a friend, leaving classes based on a bully, and leaving classes based on a mismatch with a teacher. I propose that making the class request based on the friend and teacher be the new policy (for a minimum of two classes per day and lunch). It would take a bit of maneuvering, but it is a low-cost way of fostering well-being at school.
3. All schools (starting in Middle school on up) should have a wellness area where kids can go if they need a break, a supervised lounge area. They can sit and do their work or take a break from their 7 hour day. They can take a few minutes to regroup. It can also be a triage area where we assess what the problem seems to be for that child. Do they need some support? Do they need to make some class changes? Maybe they legitimately need a break. They also might be a child that could use an alternative plan for education (hybrid model for classes).
4. More flexibility with the teachers and counselors should be encouraged and supported. Where there is a logical solution supporting children should be the norm and old school policies and rules should be revisited.
