I hope you all enjoyed a relaxing and wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with friends and family.
During the break I read the following article about stress and anxiety among students in some elite Chicago suburban districts. My wife and most of her family graduated from the schools mentioned and many of our MJDS parents and alum graduated from (or are currently enrolled at) similar institutions such as Shorewood, Nicolet and Homestead. As a former HS teacher and principal, I reflected on my experiences and that of those around me. What I kept coming back to were two questions; what is the intended outcome of learning and what do students most need from their time in school. http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/anxietyhigh/ct-teen-anxiety-part-one-tl-1116-20171120-story.html
The following article articulates an answer that aligns directly with the philosophy of education foundational to MJDS – http://thelearnersway.net/ideas/2017/11/26/inquiry-vs-direct-instruction-the-great-debate-and-how-it-went-wrong “…students need to learn how to conduct inquiry, to be problem solvers and finders. They need to be able to communicate their learning and learn with and from others. They need to be able to critically evaluate information and ideas. They need to be taught how to do these things. They need to be guided through the process. They need to see how experts approach these processes. They need opportunities to practise these skills with appropriate levels of support and scaffolding. They need to be given tools to use and be shown how and when to use them.”
There is little value in pushing young people to unhealthy levels of stress and anxiety. Social media and adulthood already create too many opportunities for such social-emotional pitfalls. Our impact as educators and parents must be focused on developing a generation of self-confident and curious learners who are willing to take risks, identify and attempt to solve the challenges of our increasingly unstable world. MJDS focuses on the essentials – what is the intended outcome of learning and what do students most need from their time in school. Let’s make sure that our collective impact on children focuses on these questions. What else matters more?
Thank you for sharing this. I have seen this a lot, but this article really shows how pervasive it is. I remember a time when it was stated the US was so far behind so many other countries in terms of academics. Looks like we are now caught up, but is this a good thing. Sure the world is a competitive place, but are we missing the development of the whole child here? The socialization and the experience of being a child should not be pushed aside so more AP classes can be taken. The other question to ask is if the stress is that much higher or is our awareness of mental health much greater and our approach/empathy towards it different in a way in which we recognize or accept it, rather than an approach of it being adolescent norms.
I think your point about awareness is really important and while I don’t know the answer, I am really glad we are paying more attention, especially at MJDS.
Thank you for sharing these articles. One of the main reasons we chose to send our kids to MJDS is to have them in a school that values both heart and mind.
Your comment resonates deeply with me. It is a huge part of why we chose to commit to MJDS.