What makes us thrive?
This week the Grade 8s have been beginning to read Lord of the Flies. The story is simple - a group of boys (it is very white and very middle class) find themselves alone on a paradise island with ample food and leisure activities. It's the kind of place Richard Branson would buy as a private island and retreat to. So you would expect them to play until they are rescued. Instead (spoiler alert) they form factions and kill each other.
The question Golding is asking and we are exploring in assembly this week - is how is it possible that humans can both be wonderful, altruistic and loving showing pro-social behaviours; and the same people can be turned to violent, amoral, selfish killers - as many wars and genocides have shown?
The most compelling answer is simultaneously the most depressing and the most optimistic book about human nature that I know. Self Determination Theory by Deci and Ryan followed 30 years of research looking at the detailed mechanisms that caused intrinsic motivation and flourishing and those which caused antisocial behaviour and lack of motivation. What they found is obvious in some ways, but profound.
Humans need three things:
This research spawned an industry of airport books like Pink's 'Drive' or Seligman's 'Flourish' which you will see in the 'Clever thinking' section of all Waterstones and in the 'Business' sections on leadership.
For us at ISA these ideas underpin many of our choices. We want more inquiry based learning, because we know learners will be more motivated in they feel a sense of autonomy and ownership of the learning. For similar reasons we work on student voice and agency with Student Council. We strive very hard to make sure learners are challenged at a 'just right' level so they build self esteem and feelings of competence - and we have very flexible options to allow for that. And most of all we care: we build strong and authentic relationships with your children.
If you are musing over the weekend - perhaps ask yourself when have you been happiest and grown the most? You might well realise, it was not when you were on a paradise holiday on a beach - but when you felt in charge of the direction of choices in your life, competently taking on new challenges or experiences, and that you cared for the people around you and they cared for you. Have a great weekend.
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