Nicholas Kellis, 11, Daniel Bakrdanikoski, 12, Alice Lee, 11, Jamie-Lee Paul, 11 and Vicky Chen, 11 are part of Carlton Primary School's new initiative. Picture: Kristi Miller
Source: The Daily Telegraph
SCHOOLS are clamouring to adopt a revolutionary "tough love" teaching initiative - replacing empty praise and gold stars for coming last.
KidsMatter is a radical shift from three decades of enhancing student self-esteem through positive reinforcement and rewards.
Students are now getting lessons in reality and learning self-management, responsible decision-making, and coping with difficulties and mistakes.
Adolescent psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg said it was time for all teachers and parents to focus on social and emotional competencies.
"Young people in Sydney would be far better off if we spent time teaching them anger management, problem solving, decision making, conflict resolution, and how to name and recognise not just their own thoughts and feelings but those of other people, too," Mr Carr-Gregg said.
Carlton Public School in Sydney's south this week introduced the social and emotional learning skills.
Principal Stephen Cooper said it emphasised personal and social development and relationship skills.
"I think the modern generation of kids are protected and they need to be exposed to situations that challenge them," he said.
Despite a successful pilot in 2006, the take-up of KidsMatter remained slow. Of the 800 primary schools across Australia implementing the program. the majority have signed up this year.
It was developed in collaboration with Principals Australia, the Australian Psychological Society, and BeyondBlue. The federal government and BeyondBlue will fund rollout to another 1400 schools by 2014.
Psychology professor Dr Helen McGrath said schools were rethinking the emphasis on self-esteem.
"Change in any sector such as education can be slow but I think there are an enormous amount of schools aware of what is happening," she said.
However, one western Sydney principal said some parents pressured schools to recognise their child with awards.
"I think it's come generally from society in that you can't fail any more," he said.
Dr Carr-Gregg said the self-esteem movement protected children from failure, robbed them of loss and grief and created a spate of anxiety disorders in young people unable to cope when they leave the protective cocoon of school or home.
"The idea of not actually allowing kids to be inspired by misfortune and the terrible things that can happen to them from time to time is almost cruel," he said.