What is the purpose of a school? Is it to prepare young people for university and work? Or is there a wider purpose? 

What is the purpose of a school? Is it to prepare young people for university and work? Or is there a wider purpose? The content of schools is dictated by government, universities and employers, and none is fully satisfied with the result. School life has become heavily dictated by exams and testing. Parents are keeping their eyes on league tables of results. What school gets the best results? What school has the best teachers? It’s all exam orientated. What about happiness? Have schools not got some responsibility in this area? To teach children what happiness is; to show them ways to become happier? What about health? Are there any evidenced-based programmes being delivered in schools that will reduce mental illness in adulthood? No. Happiness and health are not on the curriculum at all!! Lovely to have addressed the staff in Loreto College, Foxrock yesterday and to have received positive affirmation and encouragement for these views. I have this sneaky feeling that this very fine school is going to throw more emphasis on health and happiness in the coming months. And I look forward to linking with them.