The Washington Post recently published an article by two teachers about the six things children need to thrive in today’s world. Of the six, mastery of core skills was the last one mentioned. The other five were “soft” skills, such as emotional safety, unstoppable curiosity, and a sense of agency. I can make a case of how each of the six are things that Saklan practices regularly. But of them all, the one that really “popped” for me was love, trust, and belonging.
A couple of the biggest compliments a parent can pay the school are saying things like “my child is seen” or “Saklan is their second home.” What we most want for our children is an environment where they are understood, supported through thick and thin, and loved unconditionally. We intuitively know that without those pieces in place, nothing else is possible.
Maslow published his Hierarchy of Needs in 1943. The theory that our belonging and love needs must be met before we can truly realize our cognitive abilities (creativity, curiosity, developing understanding) is as true today as it was in 1943. If we want our students to do the hard work of making meaning out of our complex world, it starts with love, trust, and belonging.
Warmly,
David
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