11. The Importance of Teaching Gratitude in Australian Schools.

The ‘abundance paradox’ is discussed in Christine Carter’s You Tube clip ‘Dealing with Entitled Kids’. Carter’s discussion is aimed at parents and asks them to notice, “Are they (children) more likely to feel disappointed when they don't get what they want than they are to feel grateful when they do?” (Carter, 2013). Carter’s ontological position arises from the belief that, in American society, children have “so much, even children who seemingly don’t have a lot…have much more than children in developing nations.” (Carter, 2013) Carter believes that gratitude is the opposite to entitlement and it tends to arise from scarcity. She advises, rather than withholding the privileges afforded the current generation, parents need to "consciously cultivate gratitude." (Carter, 2013)

‘Entitled Kids’ and the ‘Abundance Paradox’ are rife in Australian schools and this has led to a generation of children who tolerate or even resent their education. Education certainly isn’t scarce in Australian and consequently little gratitude is expressed towards education from either students or parents. Howell’s observed student’s attitude of entitlement during a university Integrated Learning Class when students commented about “being entitled to much more than (they) were receiving or paying for.” (Howells, 2012, p. 129). Many students expressing this attitude of entitlement also indicated that they found it difficult to remain focussed or ‘awake’ in class and experienced feelings of “frustration, boredom, resentment, perfectionism, inertia, indecision, anxiety, worry, aimlessness, hopelessness, fear, stress, depression, regret, anger, sadness, guilt or shame.’ (Howells, 2012, p. 128). If these students represent the norm, it is no wonder that many countries in the western world are now falling behind in world educational rankings.

The latest round of PISA results published by the OECD in December 2016

show that many of the most disadvantaged students in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Macau, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam perform as well as the highest-achieving quarter of students around the world. In the western world, only Estonia and Finland match such a level of resilience against social disadvantage. (Schleicher, 2016)

It would seem that the ‘abundance paradox’ of most western countries is having detrimental effects on educational outcomes. PISA looked for similarities between the Asian and European countries who are currently leading the world in education and interestingly they all valued education and teachers “Sir Michael Barber, Pearson's chief education adviser, says successful countries give teachers a high status and have a 'culture' of education” (Coughlan, 2012).

The Australian Council For Educational Research (ACER) developed the National School’s Improvement Tool following “International research into the practices of highly effective schools and school leaders.” (Australian Council For Educational Review , 2012, p. 1). One of their nine inter-related domains is ‘A culture that promotes learning’ and within that domain, “A high priority is given to building and maintaining positive and caring relationships between staff, students and parents” (Australian Council For Educational Review , 2012, p. 6) The tool provides assessment criteria and performance indicators for the domain but it does not provide the methodology to implement it.

Howell’s paradigm of gratitude in education and teaching gratitude provides the methodology for building and maintaining positive relationships and her research has proven that it develops a positive culture of leaning. It makes sense to implement gratitude in Australian schools to improve relationships and the learning culture. I am feeling excited, privileged and extremely grateful to be a part of this enlightenment and to have the opportunity to practice gratitude in my educational setting.

References

Australian Council For Educational Review . (2012). National School's Improvement Tool. Queensland: Australian Council for Educational Research.

Carter, C. (2013, April 4). You Tube. Retrieved from Grater Good Science Centre:

Dealing with Entitled Kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzSfdasZgP0

Coughlan, S. (2012, November 27). UK Education, Sixth in Global Ranking.

Retrieved from BBC News: http://www.bbc.com/news/education-20498356

Howells, K. (2012). Gratitude in Education. Rotterdam: Sense.

Schleicher, A. (2016, December 7). Pisa tests: From American Dream to Asian ambition?

Retrieved from BBC News: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-38212075