Articles

Happy teachers + Happy students + Happy parents = Happy School

I firmly believe that all schools can be happy schools if the relationship among teachers, students and parents could be further strengthened. The basis for strengthening the relationship lies in trust amongst all. The teachers must trust that the students are able to learn and the parents are supportive. The students must trust the teachers that they are capable of helping them and their parents are there for them. The parents must trust that their children are learning in a conducive and encouraging environment provided by the teachers. Once this is achieved, we would be able to ensure that all schools would be happy schools, thus, making Singapore a happier nation.

Written on MAY 27, 2010 by ELIZABETH PETERSON
Happy Teachers, Happy Kids
“Happy teachers are more effective in their day to day tasks. Happy teachers smile more. Happy teachers are more driven to do well.”
“When a teacher is happy, due to the pleasant and empowering work environment he or she works in, then naturally the students will see this, feel this and be invigorated by this.”

TES magazine on 22 August, 2014 | By: Adi Bloom
“Teachers who are happy in their jobs achieve significantly higher academic results from their students than colleagues who are suffering from stress, academics have found.”
“According to researchers from the Work Foundation at Lancaster University, the well-being of staff makes a marked difference to students’ exam grades and should be a focus of national attention in order to tackle pupil underachievement.”
“Sir Anthony Seldon said, “If a teacher is optimistic, if they instil that sense of optimism and belief in their students, it’s inevitable that the students will do better,”he said. “For students to do well, they need to have relationships in lessons which are positive, enjoyable.

http://www.nvpc.org.sg/news_media/speeches/detail/artmid/1076/articleid/1606/if-you%E2%80%99re-happy-and-you-know-it-raise-your-hand.aspx

“University of Pennsylvania study found that grades and happiness are mutually reinforcing — that is to say, either may produce the other.”
“A study from the University of California, Berkeley spells it out. A sense of gratitude, it appears, can be learned — and plays a major role in influencing our happiness.”

Most neighbours just say ‘hi’ and ‘bye’
Few displays of trust among HDB residents, study finds; plans now afoot to raise cohesion
Published on Jun 8, 2014 7:57 AM
By Yeo Sam Jo

Neighbours may exchange greetings and make small talk, but that’s as far as many Singaporeans go.
Displays of trust, such as looking after house keys or lending and borrowing items, are seldom heard of in Housing Board estates.

Residents’ interactions also tend to be “incidental and minimal”, according to study findings released by the HDB and the National University of Singapore Centre of Sustainable Asian Cities and Sociology department. These findings, however, do not surprise experts.

“The more densely packed we are, the more we value privacy,” said sociologist Paulin Straughan.

– See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/most-neighbours-just-say-hi-and-bye-20140608#sthash.5sg2MNuU.dpuf