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Nowadays, it is best for students to score marks in class than to be a better human. The norm now is not to be compassionate and kind, but to make money. One of the many places we can depend on is our classrooms. A place better than our rooms to achieve something that we always wanted, to embark on something better. But the question is, how do teachers expect their students (us) to naturally become caring people, treat everyone with love and respect, someone who invest their blood and sweat in the things they do, who commit to achieve something meaningful in life, someone who is actively and eagerly participating in their community, or simply, someone who is kind to everyone and everything around them? Including themselves.
We, students, need to see such gestures from their teachers. Because we always look up to them, no matter what. So education or specifically classrooms, should not only be about understanding gravity or learning mathematical formulas by heart, but they should also teach about self awareness, self compassion and also teach us that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. How would you want us to treat you? Teach us that. Guide us through (Potvin et al., 2022).
Teach us to be more aware and fill our lives with compassion and care. Help us to make a commitment to ourselves for something better and a higher moral tone in our lives (Fraser-Burgess, 2020). It is essential to achieve such an important goal that the classroom of a teacher should and must be such a place, a comfort space (Tesar et al., 2022).
I have had the opportunity to meet teachers who, by trying to engage us intellectually, socially and above all emotionally, were able to turn circumstances that would have otherwise been frightening into ones that proved to be worthy.
References:
Fraser-Burgess, S. (2020). Accountability and Troubling the Caring Ideal in the Classroom: A Call to Teacher Citizenry. Educational Studies, 56(5), 456–481. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131946.2020.1799216
Tesar, M., Peters, M. A., & Jackson, L. (2022). The University as an Ethical Academy? Taylor & Francis.
Potvin, A. S., Penuel, W. R., Dimidjian, S., & Jinpa, T. (2022). Cultivating Skillful Means of Care in Schools Through Compassion Practice and Individual and Joint Inquiry. Mindfulness. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-01867-x
Such a wonderful article Janita. Truly in this fast paced world, we are also in a race to achieve so many things that we forget to just take a deep breathe, have a kind and compassionate heart towards others and for ourselves too. Indeed teachers can be a role model for us as students to follow, not within the four walls of a classroom but even beyond that. Being a teacher back in India and back to being a student here in Canada, its interesting to see both the sides of a coin and to have a balanced approach is significant.
Academic results are highly valued in China, especially as the country’s gaokao system determines a student’s future. Since primary school, students have entered a state of fierce competition, the daily learning time is strictly arranged, and after-school tutoring classes are also widespread. In such an environment, both students and parents place more emphasis on test scores than on the development of comprehensive qualities. This concept is deeply rooted in every level of society, from the family to the school to the whole society, is passing this message.
However, as all sectors of society gradually realize the importance of comprehensive quality education, China is implementing new curriculum reforms, although academic results are still highly valued. The reform aims to cultivate well-rounded students, focusing not only on academic achievement but also on the cultivation of moral qualities, social responsibility and emotional development. This change reflects the education goal from a single academic achievement to a diversified and comprehensive development direction and is committed to cultivating outstanding talents with knowledge, moral character and comprehensive ability.
As an educator, I agree with you that the classroom should be a place for students to achieve their own goals and pursue better things, not just a place to learn scientific knowledge and mathematical formulas. We can use classroom discussion, role play, social practice, etc. to teach students compassion, kindness and responsibility in real situations. For example, special courses or activities can be set up to encourage students to participate in community service and public welfare activities, through which they can cultivate their sense of social responsibility and the spirit of caring for others.
Excellent discussion on how we need to focus both on academics and SEL skills. Many students have pointed out that they have learned SEL skills from their home environment; however, many students are raised in homes high in competition and expectation. Therefore, SEL skills need to be explicitly taught as it might not ceom from the home environment. It is not that we ignore academics, but actually academics increase when we pay attention to the social and emotional life of our students.