You will be happy or else ....

[piskieinboots]

...you will get detention!!

Whatever next

Lessons in being happy proposed
Primary school pupils in England should be taught how to lead happy and healthy lives as part of a curriculum overhaul, says a government-commissioned report.

[bubblewrap]

If I want to be unhappy I'll be unhappy if it upsets the powers that be.

[piskieinboots]

I can understand the need for teaching healthy living especially considering how some parents live their lives ... but happy... sheesh!

Maybe I'm looking at this wrong tho

[Rhona]

Ok the headline of "Lessons in Being Happy" or whatever is grating, but I actually like the idea of some of what is proposed! Our kids are apparently among the most priviliged, yet unhappy and stressed in the world, so it seems reasonable that there's some research into turning that around?

I think it has some merit, but rubbish headline!

[piskieinboots]

...so it seems reasonable that there's some research into turning that around?

Oh yes, totally!

It just struck me as bizarre but then maybe I had a 'lucky' upbringing in which happiness seemed to be just another natural emotion that we all sometimes felt - as we would with sadness etc

I'm off to spend Christmas with my (very poorly) FiL and he loves debating, so I am getting in practice

[lynda66]

haven't read the link(yet), but if i'd had detention for not being happy at school ...... i'd still be there

[Two_Sheds]

Not really "happiness lessons" as such (makes an eye-catching title though)

[his] interim report ... says teaching children about emotional well-being and social skills should be a compulsory part of the curriculum. It says that pupils should have the "personal, social and emotional qualities essential to their health, well-being and life as a responsible citizen in the 21st Century"


hear hear.

[Two_Sheds]

Social skills are hard to teach in the classroom though, if they aren't observed at home

[smallblueplanet]

Social skills are hard to teach in the classroom though, if they aren't observed at home

True but the lessons and your peers might make you aware of the different ways of living.

The 'controversial' headline is typical of the way the media in this country report things.

[Polly Fouracre]

Happy upbringing, unhappy upbringing! Young teenagers in the main will flounder and sigh and be unhappy, that's what they're supposed to do. Absolutely no point in giving them the Earth, counselling(unless the counsellor is young and handsome/beautiful) youth is an unhappy time. Best to ignore it ,up to a point, and be sure that time will cure all. ( A cuddle now and then, if permitted, may help!!)

[BrideXIII]

^^ i agree, or as Bobleponge says Harrumph!!

teens are by definition miserable beggers.......... not really unhappy though i think, just indulging the mood swings.

If they want to teach them to be 'happy' thats fine, but do they think they can teach them to read and write first?
cos every time they add something to the curriculum, they take time from something else, to the total detriment of a good education.

what IS the next step in the NANNY STATE? removing children from their parents at birth and bringng them up in institutions?

teach the parents, not the children, cos todays parents are yesterdays children and you failed them and made them the parents they are today, all the government are doing is setting up the next generation to fail too.

makes me CROSS!!

[happybunny]

Stacey usually happy

A pint of Smiles is my drink!

[petal]

I agree with bridex111, teach them to read and write, enrich their lives with art and history - give them confidence - give(some of) their parents lessons too- in LOVE,then its up to them if they want to be happy or not. I do think there are many genetically shallow beings who can't be happy due to their materialistic outlook on life.

[BrideXIII]

I agree with bridex111, teach them to read and write, enrich their lives with art and history - give them confidence - give(some of) their parents lessons too- in LOVE,then its up to them if they want to be happy or not. I do think there are many genetically shallow beings who can't be happy due to their materialistic outlook on life.

LOL sorry Petal, you are right, 'some of', i should know i am one of the ones that is supposed to be a rubbish parent cos i am single and on benefits....mea culpa.

but you are so right, I don't want to see children coddled by schools, the school should be there to teach, thats ALL, i have several friends that are teachers, and now they have to be so much more, surrogate parent/social worker/teacher/friend, its too much to ask.
children wont all be happy at school, or in life all the time, but nor should they be, how can them be tempered except by adversity, what will they learn to do for themselves if they are protected too much? give them education, teach their parents to give them life skills, and let them find their way to being great adults and parents in their turn.

[smallblueplanet]

...teach their parents to give them life skills...

Who's gonna do that then?