Association Of Teachers And Lecturers Find What Makes Children Unhappy
“WHY are children so unhappy?” asks the Independent on its front page.
The motion at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers annual conference in Torquay next Tuesday runs: “Conference notes with deep concern that many children in our schools appear unhappy and anxious.”
The adults will debate and discuss why children are so unhappy.
Over the next two weeks, ATL members will discuss several topics relating to the mental health of primary age children and the pressures they face in modern society.
Teachers discussing what makes a young child unhappy is a bit like the jockey asking the horse why his face is long. It might be that – and whisper it – school is the biggest problem. It is school that ruins the child’s pursuit of fun.
Question asked; question answered.
It may also be that the teacher’s idea of happiness is not the pupil’s.
Armani is happy eating chips for breakfast, her teacher is not; Blake’s face lights up whenever he delivers a punch to a smaller child’s arm, his teacher’s does not; Romeo is never happier than when he is picking his nose and firing the oar at the girls, his teacher is not.
Conference should also wonder how the link between fat and jolliness has been broken and fat now leads to unhappiness? What has changed?
And how can teachers, politicians, heath researchers, scientists, Jamie Oliver do about it?
March 11th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Bring back the sportsfields, cut back on the psychology and let kids be kids..they do it best
March 11th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
i blame thatcher
whiny so and so she was
turned us into a nation of whiny so and so’s
never happy with what you have always something to whinge about
think you get what you want by whining / wanting / shouting enough
no surprise it’s rubbed off on the kids
March 11th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I blame the babysitter, the electronic babysitter I mean playstation, Wi, gameboy, nintendo,online and even mobile phones. No surprise the game is better than real life and parents can rest assured that the games will keep them safe from traffic ( although not necessarily bullying or paedophiles).
But boy do they come off the games in bad temper - usually deaf to you until they die. (’I'm just about to die they say’). I suppose it is all that physical repression while they play - brings out the worst in them. Or perhaps it is the experience of frequent virtual death and reincarnation. The games are the main battlefield in my home. I wonder if this is typical?
March 11th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
What makes children unhappy? Parents.
Children are no longer children. They are another acquisition. Dressed to impress. Enrolled at suitably expensive or desirable schools. Their playtime suitably taken up with drama, ballet, swimming, whatever classes. Transported by car of the moment from door to door. Whole world goes by unseen.
The poor things are too exhausted to have time for anything resembling creative play. Every toy is chosen to impress their friends and neighbours. Their brains are full of other peoples ideas and aspirations. They may have material wealth but they truly are deprived.
No magic left to childhood.
Rant over.
March 12th, 2008 at 10:46 am
good rant patch