I had the opportunity to attend IPENs 2nd Annual World Positive Education Accelerator in Fort Worth, Texas. WPEA collaborated with David Cooperrider and Champlain College to put on an Appreciative Inquiry Summit, a four-day intensive to reimagine what the education system looked like by 2051. Why are we putting such a huge emphasis on it NOW?
Today, school systems are facing issues with bullying, suicide, depression, anxiety, trauma, drop-out rates, and many other things. Positive Education allows the student to not only cultivate their intellectual minds, but they also learn to develop a broad set of character strengths, virtues, and competencies that form together to support their well-being. With our youth spending nearly 30 hours a week in school, it’s time to blend academic learning with character and well-being. We need to prepare students with life-skills such as grit, optimism, resilience, growth mindset, engagement and mindfulness among others.