As of: March 25, 2024, 1:13 p.m
By: Juliane Gutmann
Comments
Press
Split
In schools the focus is on imparting knowledge.
Approaches such as “happiness lessons” aim to strengthen children’s resilience.
A project group shows: It works.
A lot is going wrong in German schools, as current studies suggest.
In the international performance comparison PISA, German students performed worse than ever in 2022.
The focus of the analysis is on academic skills.
A lack of financial resources also turns many schools into dilapidated institutions.
Classrooms cool down in winter due to poor building conditions and the sanitary facilities in many places are reminiscent of unkempt toilet blocks at motorway rest stops.
But there are good new approaches that should improve the lives of students in the long term.
According to advocates, the school subject “happiness” could enormously strengthen the soft skills of young people.
The topics discussed range from questions such as “What is happiness?” to relaxation, mindfulness and noticing feelings in the body.
Happiness as a subject in schools promotes personal development
Basically a very useful addition to teaching without any disadvantages?
Not quite.
Some parents are concerned that this leaves even less time for the supposedly more important subjects of mathematics, German or local history and general knowledge lessons.
All subject areas that are crucial when it comes to switching to secondary schools.
“Soft” learning content does not have such a high priority in Western performance societies - but it is of fundamental importance for the personal development of children.
A project at a primary school in Braunschweig shows how useful teaching happiness can be.
As
Zeit Online
informs, this project, funded by psychologist Tobias Rahm, is supported by the State Office for Education.
Rahm is doing his doctorate on the topic of how well-being can be promoted at school.
And his “happiness lessons” are arriving.
The primary school children from the “happiness classes” report these effects, among other things, as
Zeit Online
reports:
Less negative emotions
More quiet in the otherwise noisy class after class
Foul words are used less frequently
The parents of the project group children also rated their well-being as better compared to the time when there were no happiness lessons.
Math, local history and general knowledge, German and sports: subjects that many people had at school.
But rethinking the curriculum can make sense in some ways.
© Imago
My news
On Princess Victoria's name day: Prince Oscar steals the show
The wave of bankruptcies continues: cult beverage manufacturer is insolvent
Unusual event: 25,000 people wait in St. Peter's Square - Pope foregoes reading sermons
Skoda's novelty with a combustion engine impresses fans - read “It's sustainable”.
Motorcyclist from Munich has to return on foot - and takes out anger on construction yard employees
Seriously injured ski jumping ace with devastating bedside diagnosis
You can find even more exciting health topics in the free 24vita newsletter, which you can subscribe to right here.
Create moments of happiness and deal with stressful situations correctly
There is probably still a long way to go before topics related to happiness can be firmly anchored in the curriculum.
A nationwide implementation is not planned, although many teachers are already incorporating happiness exercises into their lessons, according to
Zeit Online.
Rahm advocates for the school subject of happiness: “I don’t think it’s so absurd that everyone learns how to nurture positive emotions, how to deal with negative emotions, what it means to be grateful and helpful.”
The benefits for children and the classroom climate are obvious: children's mental health is promoted when they learn early on how to deal with stressful situations correctly.
Self-confidence is also strengthened when children learn early on what strengths they have and how they can promote them.
Also important: If you know how to create moments of happiness for yourself, you will go through life more relaxed and happier.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.