Schools are motivated to not take student wellbeing for granted as part of effective teaching but set out to survey students regularly to ascertain how they are feeling about school in particular. I support this sharpened focus and regard student wellbeing as the number one criterion of an effective school.
Bethany Hiatt "Kids face questions about sex and bullies", The West Australian, 6 June 2017, p14) reports that The Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) is considering the feasibility of a national survey of students' emotional health. In my own state of Western Australia (WA) she reports that the WA Education Department indicated that public (state) schools "could select from publicly and commercially available surveys to suit their needs." She also indicates that New South Wales has an online survey titled Tell Them From Me with a primary (elementary) and secondary (high) school versions.
I urge all my principal colleagues to get really serious about sampling student wellbeing regularly as students who feel safe, respected and even loved at school have a wonderful platform for effective learning of the academic outcomes as prescribed in the curriculum their school follows. Win over the disillusioned students and those of low motivation about school by showing that you care about every one of them every day.
How many students love coming to your school each day?
May the Force be with you!
GD
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