Learning the skills for life

today are not resilient.

But who is responsible for teaching that?

With NCEA results out this week, many students will be gauging their success on results. Never fear, mum and dad will be watching them with interest as well.

Parenting is a hard job. You don’t have to be a parent to understand that.

Equally, teachers need to be held in much higher regard, because they have a big influence on their charges ... your children.

Schools have a curriculum to teach. End of story.

Or, is it time that we examine that we could learn something from our Aussie cousins and explore more of how to make young people into wellrounded adults.

Simply put, in a modern world are we teaching young people everything they need to succeed in life?

Is being able to design a computer programme more valuable than having the character to bounce back from adversity?

As a species our ability to evolve and adapt is extraordinary. We can handle change.

But what seems to be a bit lacking now is empathy, sharing and an ability to work together.

There’s the old school of ‘‘suck it up and get on with it’’.

Without being the bearer of bad news, the reality is that old mantra isn’t working anymore.

One size does not fit all when it comes to humans and learning.

We need to think about our society and communities as a whole and how we can contribute to that.

If we have young people struggling in life, it has an impact on us all.

Every young generation becomes the future employees, future parents and has a role in shaping and influencing the communities they live in.

Don’t we all want to live in a community that is pleasant? Or, the alternative is a bunch of selfish people who don’t give a damn about anyone else.

If we want people to succeed in life, and trust me, we should all have a vested interest in helping one another succeed - then are we teaching kids the right skills to succeed in life?

We can learn tasks. But where and who should teach emotional maturity?

Is it at school or does it start at home?