The Conversation – Suzanne Wilson
“We trust schools to steward the children of today into the adults of tomorrow. They’re certainly apt at nurturing our ability to calculate, compete, and cram – but what about our capacity to connect? As a researcher in community development, I worry that we’re spending too much time assessing children as individuals, and not enough helping them to feel part of something much more valuable – communities. Young people are becoming more and more disengaged from the environment and people that surround them. Many spend less time outside than prison inmates. Belief that their opinions make a difference is low, while mistrust in charities, adults and world leaders is high. Mental health issues are on the rise, with children feeling more lonely than any other generation.” (more)