Positive emotions improve academic performance

An interesting report appeared on the ScienceDaily a few days ago, entitled "Key to School Improvement: Reading, Writing, Arithmatic...and Character?"

The article's caption quite nicely summarizes the conclusions of a recent study (built on the results of others), stating:

"A study of 20 elementary schools in Hawaii has found that a focused program to build social, emotional and character skills resulted in significantly improved overall quality of education, as evaluated by teachers, parents and students."


Described briefly in the report, the specific purposes of the "focused program" involved the cultivation of a healthier self-image, improved self-esteem, empathy, honesty, responsibility, and personal development. Using "about an hour a week," the programs yielded impressive results. Says the report, "Previously published results showed 72 percent fewer suspensions, 15 percent less absenteeism, and much better reading and math skills based on state tests. National tests showed a 9 percent improvement in these academic subjects."

All of this occurred without other changes in curriculum.

The study is worth considering. In my own experience, minor changes in one's mental approach to certain activities can make a big difference. My best coaches in sport all sought to feed and train the mind in addition to the body. This involved simple things like cultivating a positive self-image and nurturing a healthier concept of success and failure.

You'd think these steps would be obvious, but sometimes they get lost in the way people today (and not only today) think about competition.

Very rarely do coaches (or teachers) remind us that the verb "to compete" has the Latin root "competere," meaning "to seek together." So understood, "competitors" are people who go off to seek something together, be it fun, excellence, or something more sublime. Emphasizing that idea over a more traditional interpretation (for example, the sole purpose of competition is to win) can really change things.

The point is, traditional education appears to benefit by cultivating in students positive emotions and the character traits that sustain them. If helping children learn to like themselves, to empathize with others, and to develop healthy habits early in life improves  academic performance, perhaps it can also improve the quality of their lives. The study does not say, but that would be nice.

Happy Thursday, friends :)