Human Touch Principles for Higher Student Achievement
Posted: Monday, January 18, 2010
by Brad Hutchinson
Beyond Kung Fu
We are at the cross-roads.
Accelerating further into the 21st century as educators we have a responsibility to nurture the sound development of our students. Not just with high grades but by being examples of how to live with compassion, integrity, respect, curiosity, sense of awe, balance...
The world is moving increasingly faster. By the time grade school children today graduate college or university many will be entering industries not yet in existence. How can we prepare children for a future we can't even see? How can we foster the healthy states of our students, maximizing their innate potentialities for highly creative lives replete with personal and business successes?
This can be seen by rampant drug and alcohol abuses, gambling addictions, and the obesity epidemic scores of North Americans have fallen into; sadly affecting many children. Without thought of consequence people shovel toxins into their bodies at first craving while over stimulating their minds with hope of easy money, computer games, fast-flying-high-action-amazing visuals that, like a sugar rush in the body, leave the mind feeling empty shortly thereafter.
Technology-instead of freeing up time so we can enjoy happier, healthier, more fullled lives, as promised-has made us more frenzied in trying to keep up. We spend longer hours in front of our screens hammering out that next report or spreadsheet and less time with our families and friends. The fact is the more we embrace technology, the more we need to embrace human interaction as a way of balance.
Of course technology is not good or bad. It is how we use or misuse it that can become beneficial or detrimental to our lives. It is a great tool that has its place.
Amazingly we are now able to connect with people around the world instantly, make new friends, and learn about different cultures and ideas; without leaving our homes. What power we have at our fingertips! It seems the closer we connect with distant lands, however, the further disconnected we become from our immediate neighbours and communities. It is time to slow down, interact, and model effective communication and social interaction: Starting in our homes and schools.
In years gone by we learned important social skills around the dinner table at night with the family; playing outdoors with friends; being involved in the church; music; sports organizations such as soccer, baseball, and hockey
Meanwhile today's parents work longer and longer days as children eat alone in front of a television or computer screen. And if a child is not being neglected they are being "micro-managed: School ends and kids move into scheduled classes from dance to piano, from hockey to ballet The list goes on and on until the drive to succeed in a progressively competitive world mutates into unhealthy states of being. More and more we read of parents that engage in inappropriate behaviours at the ice rinks, baseball and soccer fields using force or threat of force to coerce coaches and referees. Is it any wonder why violent and anti-social behaviour is on the rise in schools?
We are losing touch with human touch.
Spiritual leaders of the past knew the importance of human touch and its benefits for individuals, communities, and society. Now clinical research and science is backing them up: Human beings benefit physically, mentally, and spiritually from gratitude, generosity, humour, compassion, empathy... Unfortunately, there is a misconception that there is no time for teaching these qualities in the classroom.
There is no question that in our information based society children need strong literacy and logical skills to thrive and survive. The fact is, however, that modeling Human Touch principles in the classroom takes no more time and will, in fact, help in academic subjects and solve many issues facing educators today.
If you are a teachers or principal you know the problems all too well. Whether you are new in the field or a veteran you know parents that send their kids to school expecting them to correct their behaviours make them "A-Students" and send them home perfectly disciplined; as if that's your job. In the words of John Sculley: " We expect teachers to handle teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, and the failings of the family. Then we expect them to educate our children."
Of course the sitting political party of the day has "new improved ideas" how to cut costs, and increase grade levels, which at times have been shown to be detached from reality in the classroom.
Then there is the urban legend fostering public opinion of you as the person who became a teacher because of the benefits, such as summers off and many more holidays than the average person and a work day that begins and 9:a.m and ends at 3:15p.m. I've met and worked with many teachers and principals and I have yet to experience anything but a deep passion on their part to help and educate children. The teachers and principals I know work under tremendous pressures from above and below and are not paid nearly enough.
Human touch principles of gratitude, honesty, compassion, sense of awe, respect will help you bring out the best in your students, staff, and schools. Not as a replacement for other materials but rather as a single thread to be woven within all that is taught by you.
Human touch can be applied for all students, whatever their academic levels or natural interests.It goes to the core of decency, respect, integrity and human potential. By consistently applying these principles you will provide a way that embraces core academics and then extends well beyond the formal boundaries of education. You will help students align with the deeper values that bring great success, whatever vocation they choose.
The fact is that if you want to experience optimism and goodwill in the classroom, you must create the right conditions for it. By incorporating a human touch approach with curiosity, passion, and expectation you will be setting the stage for success. Learn them together with your students and watch the classroom come to life with respect, joy, and elucidation.
Here are some ideas:
Gratitude: Look for opportunities to genuinely thank a student every single day. Look for creative ways to do this. For instance if there is a student that is often missing from your class, don't reproach her for not being there. Genuinely thank her for showing up. Watch that this doesn't appear sarcastic as that can make the situation worse. This supports that principle of what you focus on expands.
Honesty: If a student is not doing well you must tell him sincerely. Critique him in a way that builds him up not beats him down. There is an unhealthy trend sweeping across education in North America. Schools are becoming more focused on grade point averages than ensuring the students have the ability to succeed in post secondary opportunities. We are sending our children out into the world without the tools to succeed. This is forcing many colleges and universities to augment their already full programs with courses to bring new students up to speed in reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Generosity: Give a little of your time or money to somebody everyday.
Humour: Tell a funny story about yourself to your students or tell a clean non-offensive joke and laugh like it's the funniest thing you've ever heard. Beyond those rolled eyes and shaking heads is a heart opening.
Empathy/Compassion: Truly listen to a student that seems down. As you walk through your school you will find plenty of opportunity for this. From problems at home to bullying in school you can change a student's life just by listening empathetically Note: there is a difference between really listening and waiting to speak. Often times your just listening can make the world of difference in a student's life.
Now..
Imagine a student coming to you 15 years down the road full of appreciation and accolades that you made a huge difference in her or his life because the way you taught showed that you cared. You have it in you to be a source of inspiration and enlightenment for your students. By incorporating a human touch approach you will ignite a flame that kindles a learning process that will transform students into engaged citizens of the world; a learning process, that because of you, your students will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
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