Pupils 'need
happiness lessons' May 2007 / BBC News
Do we need lessons in life?
Teachers should give pupils lessons
in how to cope with life and be happy, a government adviser says.
Professor Lord Richard Layard, from
the London School of Economics, believes the central purpose of schools should be to teach "the secrets of happiness".
He is calling for a new generation
of teachers specialising in what is known as "emotional intelligence".
Teachers' leaders say they do all
they can to promote children's well-being and the timetable is already crowded.
Lord Layard said people were no happier
today than they were 50 years ago and that there had been a sharp fall in the numbers saying they trusted other people.
"We have had endless experiments
trying to teach people not to take drugs or drink which have failed. Schools
are tests and exam factories these days
John Bangs, NUT "We need to go down the route of giving values to people. There are scientifically-evaluated programmes
which have halved depression in teenagers."
He said schools should follow programmes
in "emotional intelligence", so that children could learn how to manage their emotions and look at attitudes to work and money.
The ideas could be made part of lessons in personal, social and health education,
he said.
John Bangs of the National Union
of Teachers said: "Our members recognise the diagnosis but will be concerned by the solution.
"Teachers spend a lot of time trying
to ensure that their pupils are happy people, however, schools are test and exam factories these days.
"If schools are going to spend more
time on developing ethos and encouraging pupils to be confident and happy then less time needs to be spent on lessons."
Teenage years
Wellington College introduced a programme of happiness or well-being lessons for older pupils last
autumn.
The independent school collaborated
with the Well-Being Institute of the University of Cambridge to devise the programme.
Such lessons could cut bullying,
campaigners say
The school's website says the aim
is to equip children "with an understanding of what makes lives thrive and flourish, and how they can improve their chances
of experiencing happiness, good health, a sense of accomplishment and lasting companionship.
"The lessons should help them cope
better during their teenage years, both in and out of school, and later at university."
The lessons are held once a fortnight
throughout the school year.
Anti-bullying campaigners believe
teaching children about their emotions will help improve behaviour in schools.
Emma-Jane Cross, of the charity Beatbullying
said: "Teaching children emotional intelligence is central to the successful prevention of bullying behaviour all through
their lives.
"We have seen this work in our bullying
prevention programme for primary schools. After working with Beatbullying, schools report a significant reduction in bullying
and disruptive behaviour of, on average, 40%."
