Love in the classroom helps transformational growth to blossom
When I taught in public schools, I was once asked why my students tended to perform so well on standardized tests. The answer was obvious to me — with the help of love in the classroom. I showed my students love every day, and I used that love to motivate and relate to them.
Unfortunately, due to horrific events in schools, love in the classroom has come under fire. Yet, demonstrations of love are critical to student growth. As an educator and school leader, I believe appropriate, well-placed acts of love are essential and should be encouraged in school. It’s important to remember students are people above all else. Students want to celebrate their success, have their voices heard and have their knowledge challenged. Love — in tandem with critical thinking and project-based learning, and tailored to one’s interests — empowers students to seek knowledge above all.
As a mother myself, I know how important it is to choose to see the good in students and always assume good intentions. As a friend, I know love is a two-way street. Showing my students they have a voice and loving them for sharing that voice fearlessly is an act of love that empowers the student and teacher alike.
For anyone teaching — whether you are a parent teaching your child, an educator teaching students, one friend teaching another, or any combination of the three — there are many ways to show love in your instruction, which include:
■ Remembering the true goal of education: to produce loving, fulfilled, productive members of society. What we invest in the youngest members of society is what we will receive in the long run.
■ Prioritizing more than the standardized test scores: If we pressure our students on scores and only scores, we will receive just that. If there is creativity, love and individuality in the classroom, our students learn more and grow as human beings.
■ Thinking outside of the box and encouraging students to do the same: Divergent thinkers are the best thinkers. Thinking fosters our aa breadth of different people.
In a world where hate is all too common, love in the classroom should be encouraged as a tool to inspire transformational student growth. When we love one another, it brings out the best in us all.
CHRISTINA SEAMSTER, BOCA RATON Editor’s note: Christina Seamster is the head of school at Fusion Academy Boca Raton.