Stat of the Day: 77% of 14 to 29 year olds said they or someone close to them had suffered from mental health issues.
77%.
And the #1 issue for that age group? School shootings.
I’m thinking of all the supposed “C” skills that we’re supposed to develop in our students, it’s arguable that “coping” may now be the most important. As much so as creativity, curiosity, collaboration, or any of the others. If are kids cannot cope with the realities of the day, none of those others will flourish.
It begs all sorts of questions for educators and schools.
How are we adding to their stress? What current practices might ease their burden? (Think ending early morning sleep deprivation, taking the “high stakes” off the test, or giving them more opportunities to move their bodies and quiet their minds.)
Are we explicit in teaching kids coping strategies? Do they learn them implicitly from the cultures that we create in our schools? Do the adults model them purposefully?
Are
we building capacity in our communities to support and nurture and care
for our kids? Are we honoring the fears of our children every day?
As with everything else in life, this is a choice. Right now, most schools choose rigor and competition and immobility.
We have healthier options.
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