What should school teach? Reading, writing, counting – this is understandable. But what if children were taught from childhood to be happy, to understand other people, to argue correctly, to see beauty in small things? In many countries, they already do this, and this makes the school curriculum completely different from what we are used to.
Here are a few items that seem strange at first glance, but in fact are certainly important.
Happiness as a School Subject (India)
In Indian schools, the morning begins not with equations or dictations, but with... Awareness. Children close their eyes, take a deep breath, relax. Lessons of happiness are not about "smile and everything will be fine." This is about the ability to understand yourself, your emotions and not depend on external circumstances.
In the classroom, students learn to notice what makes them happy, what upsets them, how to manage anxiety and make life more pleasant. They meditate, discuss moral dilemmas (for example, what is more important: to tell the truth or not to hurt a friend's feelings?), try breathing techniques, analyze what makes them happy.
These classes do not have grades, tests and homework. But their main goal is to make happiness not depend on chances, but become a skill that can be managed.
Empathy is more important than grades (Denmark)
In Denmark, there have been "empathy class hours" since 1993. Imagine: once a week, children sit in a circle and share what is in their hearts. Someone is worried about the upcoming exam, someone is worried about a conflict with a friend, and someone is just sad — and they don't need to be explained why.
The main idea is simple: learn to hear and understand each other. If someone feels bad, the whole class looks for a way to support them. If there is a conflict between the children, they analyze together who felt what and why.
As a result, children not only get along better with each other, but also face bullying less often. After all, when you understand what the other person feels, you no longer want to offend him.
How to be an adult? (Singapore)
School teaches formulas and historical dates, but they usually talk little about how to live in this world. In Singapore, they decided to correct this gap and introduced a subject called "Character and Citizenship Education".
These lessons discuss important issues: how to behave safely on the Internet, what mental health is, why you need to respect the culture of your country, how to build a career correctly, and even how world conflicts work.
These are not boring lectures. These are live discussions where children learn to analyze information, argue their position and at the same time respect the opinion of others. After such lessons, they do not just pass exams, but go out into life with an understanding of how this world works.
Calligraphy: A Lesson in Patience and Beauty (China, Japan)
In a world where everyone types on keyboards, Chinese and Japanese schools teach children to write with a brush. And not just to write, but to do it beautifully, in strict accordance with traditions.
Calligraphy is not about neat handwriting. It's about patience, focus, the ability to slow down and enjoy the process. Each line in the hieroglyph must be drawn with the correct pressure, in the correct order.
Sounds tedious? Could be. But when the child sees how his lines become more and more confident and beautiful, he begins to appreciate the result of his work. It's like meditation – only instead of breathing, a brush and mascara work here.
Chess is not just a game (Armenia)
In Armenia, chess is a compulsory school subject. They are sure that this game not only entertains, but also teaches you to think.
Children begin to learn chess from the 2nd grade. They learn the rules, solve problems, and participate in tournaments. But the main thing is that they learn not to take rash steps, calculate the consequences of their actions, and find a way out of difficult situations.
All these skills are useful not only at the chessboard, but also in life. After all, in fact, chess teaches the main thing: before doing something, you need to think carefully.
Why is this important?
Happiness, empathy, awareness, the ability to argue, patience, logical thinking – it sounds like these subjects should be in every school.
Indeed, it is not enough just to learn the multiplication table or to know when the French Revolution began. It is important to be able to feel, understand yourself and others, and find solutions.
A school that teaches not only knowledge, but also life is a school that prepares children not just for exams, but for the real world.
