Parents will undoubtedly help to shape their children’s personalities; however, schools can also determine their students’ beliefs, values, and outlook on life.
While the sole purpose of school is to provide kids with a fantastic education and to prepare them for the real world, they also have a responsibility for protecting both their mental and physical health. Keep reading to discover how a school can affect your child’s personality, which can vary from placing labels to hiring supportive professionals with an online counseling degree.
Academic Potential
Every teacher should step into the classroom with the aim of helping their students reach their academic potential. However, some educators and schools are much better at this goal than others, and it is their actions that can shape a child’s IQ, ambition, and career prospects.
In addition to relaying their knowledge to students, teachers must help children to seek solutions to various problems and find answers to tough questions. It can teach a child perseverance and help them to quickly bounce back from a mistake. These skills can then provide young children and teenagers with greater confidence in their ability, which could feed into their studies and career choices.
Social Skills
A school will not only determine a child’s academic potential, but it could improve their social skills. If a teacher is friendly, helpful, and approachable, it can provide children with greater confidence when talking to people in positions of authority. However, if a teacher is cold and formal, they might come to fear speaking to those in positions of power.
Kids’ social skills will also be determined by their relationships with other students. For example, children who are bullied at school will often suffer from various emotional struggles during adulthood. What’s more, they may struggle to secure a rewarding career due to a lack of confidence when talking to others or poor self-belief.
According to a recent study, kids who have endured bullying could experience depression, reduced academic achievements, and physical health issues. Unfortunately, the same study found that victims tend to outnumber bullies by an incredible 3 to 1. Also, those who had never experienced bullying and never bullied another student often performed well in school and enjoyed a higher salary in adulthood, compared to those who were touched by bullying, such as victims, bullies, and bully victims.
It is clear that the school is responsible for their students’ emotional and social maturity. If educators ignore their students’ social and emotional development, it’s likely a child will fail to reach their academic potential.
It is for this reason why every primary, middle, and high school should hire at least one school counselor with an online counseling degree. They will understand that to help a child to thrive academically, they must have a rock-solid support system in place at school, in the home, and across the community. There is, however, a shortage of school counselors across the United States, which is why many people should consider completing an online counseling degree. By doing so, every school can work with qualified counselors, who can provide the emotional support and guidance every child will need throughout education. Plus, an online counseling degree will provide parents with the confidence that caring, knowledgeable professionals can offer their child support, advice, and direction when they need it most.
Labels
Many schools will often embark on practices that will identify some students as successful, which can make others feel like failures. When this happens, a child can either accept or reject the label placed on them. If you’re unfamiliar with the term self-fulfilling prophecy, which is also known as the Pygmalion Effect, it is when a child accepts the label they are given.
For example, they might not try in the classroom or study for a test, as they will believe they are stupid or a failure. However, some students may work harder to reject the label they are given, which could help them to flourish academically, and this could be influenced by specific teachers, parents, or their self-belief.
Labels often aren’t based on a child’s intelligence, but they are caused by a school’s social expectations for a student. For instance, they might believe a child with attention deficit disorder would struggle to sit silently during a test or to study for long periods. Sadly, this can lead to a child perceiving themselves as a failure when they might be intelligent and creative.
A study from the 1960s proved the power of placing labels onto students. At the start of the study, elementary school teachers were informed that five of their students were “academic spurters” and that an earlier test expected them to outperform their classmates by the end of the year. However, the teachers were unaware that the five “academic spurters” were chosen at random. Yet, at the end of the school year, the five students outperformed their classmates, which proved the teachers’ high expectations had caused them to treat the academic spurters differently to other students. For instance, they asked them more questions and provided better feedback, which improved their academic performance.
Rather than placing labels on students, schools must find ways to adapt their practices to meet a child’s challenges and help them to overcome social and educational problems. Again, this could vary from identifying signs of bullying or hiring a school counselor who has taken the time to earn an online counseling degree. If schools fail to do so, their actions, or inactions, could influence a student’s path after education.
Building Character
Schools are not only responsible for providing a solid educational foundation, but they will also build a child’s character. It is here they may learn respect, compassion, integrity, and empathy. For example, a teacher might state a student must raise their hand when they have a question or ask permission to use the bathroom.
School debates can also help to shape a student’s opinions, beliefs, and values, which they will carry with them throughout their lives. What’s more, it can improve their listening skills and lead to greater patience, as they will need to wait their turn to air their opinions or provide a rebuttal.
Shaping Viewpoints
Children will often absorb many views and opinions from their parents, which could have a positive or negative effect on their life. Schools have an opportunity to either build on those beliefs or to change a student’s thought processes.
For example, the classroom could introduce a child to students and teachers of different nationalities, and they can also learn about various cultures and traditions that are different from their own. As a result, they could become more respectful of people from various backgrounds, and more accepting of others‘ behaviors, views, and customs.
Determining Passions and Interests
A child’s experiences both inside and outside the classroom could determine their passions, hobbies, and interests, which could shape their career. For example, if students are forced to read from chemistry textbooks each lesson, they might fail to develop a love for science. However, a teacher could spark an interest in the subject by encouraging kids to experiment safely with different chemicals or equipment.
Some schools may also provide various extracurricular opportunities, which could help students to embrace an interest further and expand on their knowledge and skills. For instance, students interested in sports could join a football team, swim team, or a cheerleading squad. Embracing an interest could ultimately increase their self-esteem and motivate them to graduate from high school, attend university, and to reach their dream career. The extracurricular activities can also teach a student the importance of teamwork, as every child participating will be working towards the same goal.
If you can tap into a child’s interests, they’ll be more likely to pass various tests with flying colors and earn a respected qualification, such as an online counseling degree.
A Learning-Oriented Mindset
While some children love to learn new skills and embrace various activities, others would rather play with non-educational toys. For example, one study found that children who attended nursery embarked on more complex and purposeful activities during their first year of school. They tended to lean towards more educational activities during a free choice session, while children who only attended playgroup often engaged in non-demanding play.
As the nursery children had entered an educational environment earlier, they were more likely to be learning orientated compared to playgroup kids. The study also found they were more likely to play independently and were persistent when facing learning obstacles. It could indicate that pre-school education could give children a head start in the classroom, which could provide them with greater confidence and may lead to better academic performance.
The Role of the Teacher
While schools will endeavor to provide children with an exceptional education, each teacher will play a significant role in a child’s grades, behavior, and even their future. For example, if a teacher treats their students with kindness and respect, it’s likely a child will work hard to meet an educator’s expectation and make them proud. As a result, they could adopt a positive approach to their education and a hard work ethic.
However, if a teacher doesn’t appear to care for their students, and is strict and unhelpful, it’s possible children will be lazy in the classroom and will feel no compulsion to make an educator proud.
The Importance of the Right Curriculum
The curriculum should set a student up for success once they leave school. As modern technology is impacting every industry and will be used in most jobs, schools must incorporate different devices and tools into the classroom. However, schools that fail to embrace as much technology as others will put their students at a disadvantage, as they might not be best prepared for a career after high school.
Friendship Groups
Children are often influenced by their peers. For example, a student might be more likely to skip a class if one or more of their friends do, which can negatively impact their education. Plus, children are likely to adopt their friends’ behaviors, outlooks, and interests over time. A child’s friendship group can, therefore, affect their personality during their youth and in adulthood.
Career Direction
While educators might take the steps to improve a child’s knowledge and skill set, they might fail to prepare their students for the real world. Once they leave school behind, a student might want to attend college, join an internship, or find a job. However, a lack of career direction could inhibit ambition and prevent a student from reaching their goals and potential.
This is another reason why every school should hire a school counselor, as they can support a child with their career development. For example, they will inform them of the steps they need to take to make their dreams a reality, such as the grades they’ll need to achieve and the processes they’ll need to undertake.
Thanks to their guidance, a child could thrive throughout school and onwards. Schools must look to recruit a school counselor who has taken the time to earn an online counseling degree. You never know, a counselor could be so inspiring that they could encourage other students to follow in their footsteps and join an online counseling degree program.
Emotional Security
Every child will need someone to turn to when they are struggling with a family problem or personal struggle. However, if there is no support system in place in a school, a child might lack direction or struggle to maintain their overwhelming feelings. However, as mentioned, a school counselor can provide the help and support a child might need outside of the classroom.
For example, an online counseling degree will build on a counselor’s communication skills, so they will understand the importance of listening to students, setting boundaries, and displaying empathy. What’s more, most online counseling degree programs will ensure a professional has a rock-solid knowledge of a school’s ethical and legal responsibilities. For these reasons, parents can rest assured that their son or daughter will receive the appropriate advice and support during their time at the institution.
Conclusion
While different factors can determine a child’s personality, such as their home life, economic status, and interests, schools will undoubtedly shape their beliefs, values, and passions. Every school must look beyond improving a child’s knowledge and skills and they must aim to support a child’s physical, mental, and emotional health. For instance, they must provide an open-door policy for children to discuss their worries and concerns with a school counselor, who will have earned an online counseling degree.
Schools may need to avoid placing labels onto children, offer helpful career advice, and create a positive, creative, and approachable environment, which could help students to flourish both academically and personally.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In