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How important is happiness to learning?

Lindsay Plumpton

By: Lindsay Plumpton

Communications Leader

Tuesday 30 July 2013

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In America and Sweden, social and emotional learning is considered to be integral to student success in school, college, life and work. It’s believed that teaching children how to manage their emotions, build effective relationships and make responsible decisions equips them for the challenges that they’ll face, promotes academic success and discourages negative behaviour.  Happy Learning

It’s interesting to consider: could the UK learn from this model? A recent survey conducted by independent research agency Public Knowledge in conjunction with NCFE showed that over 80% of the general public believes that young people should receive guidance on personal money management at school, with over 70% agreeing that students should receive lessons in sexual health, alcohol awareness and substance misuse. The research was conducted nationally with over 2300 members of the general public and demonstrates a strong feeling that school should be about more than academia.

UK head teacher Zoe Dunn recently conducted some research around the subject, visiting different schools across America and Sweden, and concluding that social and emotional learning in the UK could certainly be more effective. Writing for The Guardian’s Teacher Network blog, she pledged to “put social and emotional learning, developing character, resilience and emotional understanding, at the heart of (her) school.”

What do you think? How important is social and emotional learning? Do you think it carries a stigma? Should it have a central place in the curriculum? Or is it a distraction?

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