Positive Psychology in Education

Positivist Education brings together the science of Positive Psychology to teach best practices to encourage and support individuals, schools, and communities to flourish. We refer to flourishing as a combination of “good feelings and doing good.” Positivist Education focuses on specific skills that help students to strengthen their interpersonal relationships, build positive emotions, promote awareness, and encourage a healthier lifestyle.

Studies show that many students lack socio-emotional skills and become less attached to school as they progress from elementary to high school. This lack of connection can negatively affect academic performance, behavior, and health.

Professor Lea Waters of the University of Melbourne, a renowned specialist in organizational change and positive psychology, notes: “We have to question our basic understanding of the purpose of a school as an institution. Certainly, the school’s goal is to impart academic knowledge and learning to help students achieve their goals. But my opinion is that schools are also social institutions that help to develop the mind of a young student. Students have the opportunity to develop character, social learning, emotional literacy, and well-being. By investing in the student’s well-being, the institution will be directly investing in improving academic knowledge. “

Professor Waters cites the results of an analysis of students from 200 American schools ranging from kindergarten to high school. The 271,000 students who participated in social and emotional learning programs demonstrated, on average, an 11% increase in academic performance.

It all comes down to the basic understanding of what motivates people to achieve their goals. The new science of positive psychology shows that we can achieve just as well, if not better, by identifying our natural forces. We achieve more when we feel confident, so the Motivation factor is an effective basis for our success.

Different forms of Positive Education

If you look at the world of the different schools that are applying positive psychology, you will see that there are many similarities and differences. Some schools have chosen to implement a traditional curriculum such as the Penn Resilience Program or the Bounce Back Program. These programs cover not only the development of resistance, but the building of positive relationships and emotions, strengths, and so on.

Other schools have created their specific welfare-based curricula. The Aske Federation in the United Kingdom decided that this was the best route for them. At Luanda International School, in Angola, director Bora Rancic is leading an interdisciplinary group of employees in a program called Wellness Across Borders to bring the applications of positive psychology to the school using the VIA Fortes Inventory as their board. Saint Peter School in Australia is implementing a combination of traditional programs and tailor-made programs.

Which positive education approach is right for your school?

Assuming that implementing a positive education program is right for your school, how do you decide which approach to take? It depends! Of course, the cost of the program you have in mind is an important consideration, as is the time it takes to run the training before putting it into practice. Besides, several specific issues need to be considered, such as:

:: Want to buy a ready-made curriculum or create your program

:: Have a broad holistic approach where the institution’s culture and values ​​are also taken into account or a more restrained approach, consisting only of a specific time table for well-being in the classroom.

:: Focus on the student’s well-being, personal well-being, or both

Keeping in mind the answers to these questions is essential for the success of the initiative to use Positive Education in schools, a serious way of becoming a positive prospect in society.