and how to get there.
In his TED Talk “How to escape the education Death Valley, Sir Ken Robinson. “Says that in some parts of the United States, up to 60% of kids’ drop out of school. He explains that the cost of this, to the community, long term is enormous and devastating. There is also another group of children. These children may finish school but are disengaged and uninterested, and it is not their fault. These children are not celebrated in their diversity but rather pushed into conformity. Something that rings true for me. I was never an A+ student in school, I preferred the social aspects. As an adult, (with ADHD) I can now look back with compassion for myself. I worked incredibly hard to be a very average student. In school, so much of a child’s confidence is based on their academics.
Sir Ken Robinson believes that a real education involves a broad curriculum including the arts, humanities, and physical education.
He also believes that curiosity (which children naturally have) is a key element in flourishing. “If we help them ignite a spark of curiosity, they will often go on to learn on their own”.
How can we do this?
We can find their interests and build learning through these interests. As an adult, I now love learning. It is a huge part of my life. I have researched Burnout Recovery for over 10 years now. I have read books, blogged, created a podcast, spoken at events, and coached many, many moms. I found my special interest, my passion and I love it. Is this what I thought I wanted to do as an adult, no. I hated writing in school, and I was very nervous of public speaking but if you find your interests it doesn’t feel like work.
Sir Ken also says that although standardised testing has its place, it should not be the dominant culture of education. And so do the Finnish. Finland continues to be a top-ranking school system. How are they different? According to the World Economic Forum They have shorter school days, less homework, and minimal standardised testing. Instead of testing, we could focus more on creativity. Does that take away from STEM learning, actually no, Finnish schools continue to come out on top in reading, math, and science and have an almost zero dropout rate. It makes me wonder if it is worth trying something completely new.
Jess, also known as (@thesydneyteacher) On Instagram, says that she noticed the community-focused approach in Finland.
The students who did not speak finish, were not only immersed in intensive language lessons but also cared for, in a trauma-informed manner. Their goal is to create an inclusive environment, including children with disabilities. This dedicated support system is something my family would have appreciated. When my sister (who is in a wheelchair due to a genetic disease), was moving from Primary to High School, we realised that (in South Africa) this was not the case. She is rejected because of the lack of support and funding these schools struggle with. Starting in a new school what she needed was inclusion and kindness. As a family we needed the management of the school to think outside the box because we all deserve to know, that we belong.
The Norwegian countries also focus on play. They believe it helps children to be happier, healthier, and more independent. In the United States play often comes second. I think it comes from society ‘s pressure to succeed. Science says that play is important and needs to come first.
This Harvard article shares the 5 ways educators can support playful learning in their classrooms:
1. Empower students to guide their own learning.
2. Create a culture of collaborative learning together.
3. Encourage risk-taking and experimentation.
4. Promote imaginative thinking.
5. Accept the different emotions that play can create.
Helen Russell suggests in her work that we should focus on a life goal of happiness and contentment rather than the very masculine culture of money and power. Success itself is very personal and unique. We all have different personalities, interests, backgrounds, and childhoods, so our idea of success with be very unique too.
Determining what our personal success looks like, is a choice.
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