Edge-Ucation

In less than a month, thousands of high school graduates will take a stroll across the stage to receive their diplomas.  In one ceremonial step, they leave behind the only world they have ever known, and enter a new world full of uncertainty.  In one step they emerge from under the protective wings of their families, friends, and schools.  In that one step they go from child, to adult.  After that step, life will never be the same.

Some graduates head off to universities.  Some take a “gap” year.  Some enter directly into the workforce, but all experience a new set of circumstances where they will be much more responsible and accountable for their success or failure.  This is scary for most graduates, as many of their safety nets are removed.  They must make it on their own.  Their idealism and optimism will be challenged in the “real” world, and the uncertainty of their future success is what scares them most.

Hopefully their schools have taught them the content they need to know.  Hopefully their schools have helped them develop the skills they need to possess.  Hopefully their schools have allowed them to develop a positive set of attributes that will prepare them to lead a balanced and successful life.

If you ask a student what is on their minds at graduation, they are not likely to respond with questions like,  “Did I learn enough about how to analyze poetry?”  “Am I good enough at deriving equations in Physics?”  “Is that “C” I earned in 10th grade History class going to keep me from getting a good job?”

More likely they are preoccupied with questions such as:

Will I succeed at university?  Will I make new friends?  Will I lose touch with the friends I have now?  Will I get a good job?  Will I find my soul mate?  Will I be a good father or mother?  Will I be happy?  Will my life matter or be irrelevant? How do I know if I am ready to be successful in any of these things?

Look again at the list of questions above.  These are serious and valid questions for a graduate to have.  But to what extent will the answers to these questions be effected by what a graduate knows?  (The content he or she learned in school)  To what extent will what students can do (The skills he or she learned in high school) have on the answers to these questions?  I would argue that, outside of success at university, very little.

Now consider this.  To what extent will what is a graduate is like? (Their attributes like being responsible, adaptable, determined, personable, authentic, confident, etc.) be important in answering these questions?  I would argue that what a graduate is like will be instrumental in their success of failure in everyone of the questions above.

It is important to teach content and skills in high school.  We would never argue otherwise, but developing a positive set of attributes is at least equally important to the future success of a student.  It is time we define these attributes, identify the contexts where they can be learned and developed, and make them an intentional part of our school curriculums.

Graduation day might still be scary, but as students take that life changing step, we can be more confident that they are ready for whatever the future holds.

Filed under: Adolescents, Attributes, Education, High School, Learning, School, Teens Tagged: | Atributes, content, curriculum, Diplomas, Future, Gap Year, Graduation, skills