April 5, 2024 Read Time:
ConnectingStudentsResilienceMental Health
Students everywhere are struggling with stress, anxiety, and exhaustion. There is an ongoing national dialogue about the causes behind these challenges - social media, too much screen time, helicopter parenting, peer pressure, etc - but the end result is a significant negative impact on learning. This topic came up recently at an ECLC Advisory Cabinet meeting, was highlighted in a recent New York Times story on absenteeismnationwide, and is reinforced in The Anxious Generation, a new book I’ve been reading by psychologist Jonathan Haidt. Research shows that in the early 2000s, rates of depression and anxiety in the United States were stable, but from 2010 to 2019 - pre COVID - they rose by more than 50 percent.
As educators, it is our job to help young people make authentic connections and thrive in a world where they can often feel untethered. You’ve probably seen Education Secretary Tutwiler’s message on billboards across the state: “School is where kids belong.” The message is explicitly targeted to solving the absentee crisis, but the double meaning is clear: When students feel a sense of belonging, they are far more likely to come to school.
School needs to be a welcoming, comfortable, social space, where young people and adults can learn how to be in community and find common ground even amidst their differences. It’s where everyone should feel seen, heard, and appreciated so that they can see, hear, and appreciate others. Face-to-face interactions (aka time away from screens) must be a central part of our students’ relational repertoire because human beings are social animals; we are wired to connect in real space and in real time.
Creating a place of belonging for students is aligned to one of our primary goals for adult learning. At Power of Place we aim for all of our experiences to offer safe, welcoming, judgment-free opportunities for participants to be vulnerable, learn from one another, and build a vibrant, thriving community.
Sometimes a shared sense of awe is an opportunity for connection. We have just such an opportunity coming our way on Monday, April 8, when a total solar eclipse will cross North America. As the moon passes between the sun and Earth, the sky will darken more than 90% as if it were dawn or dusk. Many communities are hosting outdoor “watch” parties - I hope you all have a chance to join one and safely enjoy this rare phenomenon with your students, friends, and peers.
