schools*
The value of
SCHOOL
IT’S EASY TO CONFUSE SCHOOLING WITH EDUCATION. A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT IS THAT SUPPORTIVE BRIDGE BETWEEN HOME AND THE WORLD OUTSIDE, AN INCUBATOR OR SPRINGBOARD FOR THE LIFE SKILLS NEEDED OUT THERE. SCHOOL IS MORE THAN ACADEMICS, WRITES ANNE SCHAUFFER
F
ABOVE: Dr
Caron Bustin – an educational psychologist.
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or many parents, juggling children and schooling at home during lockdown has taxed them beyond breaking point. Others have coped better, and some even believe it works well for them, and are toying with the idea of this as their new normal. But to what extent is this right for every child? Even if they’re happy being “schooled” in the easy comfort of home, is this a well-rounded education? There are numerous complex life skills taught and learnt in a school environment, some of which are not able to be replicated at home. Parents contribute crucial, valuable puzzle pieces to a child’s developing life, but so, too, does the societal microcosm provided by schools, teachers, and a wide range of children. Dr Caron Bustin is an educational psychologist with extensive hands-on experience. From her perspective, there’s also ample global scientific research on a child’s emotional, academic and social development, and how the school environment supports that: “The school-going child progresses from the inner sanctum of the family circle, to the first external domain within wider society. Schools act as the interface between the individual and the macrosystem, the world at large. Going to school requires a child’s adjustment from dependence on parents and home, to belonging and socialising in a same age group – plus developing trust in another adult, the class teacher, who in turn represents the authority of the
institution and wider values. It’s a big step.” And it builds from there: “Past research shows that children with poor social skills through insufficient social opportunities are at higher risk for negative behaviour,” she says. An ability to interact appropriately is a key social skill; bluntly, children need to learn to get along with other people. “Social skills and social interactions are the foundation of human consciousness,” she explains. “These emerge through a dynamic interplay between the individual and his/her environment, and are believed to be fundamental to our functioning, for relationships and community life. School provides the ideal stamping ground to
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