What’s more important: achievement or well being? We say why not have both?

Oct 31st, 2007 by Academics Plus Tutoring

Please excuse our interruption to our series of entries on SAT hints to address a topic that is of great interest to us, and likely to many high school students, parents, and teachers.

Two days ago, Sara Rimer of the NY Times published an article: Less Homework, More Yoga, From a Principal Who Hates Stress (NY Times Article) about the Needham High School principle, Mr. Richards, who has mandated high school seniors to take yoga. This is not the first time Mr. Richards has made big time news with his innovative measures. Last year, much controversy ensued over his decision to discontinue the publication of the high school honor roll in the local newspaper (Boston Globe Article).

Both issues incited debates about the seemingly opposing values of high achievement and well-being. We ask you this: What makes people believe these values must be in opposition? Why can’t students perform to their potential without all the stress? Has it occurred to any of these naysayers that when a person is in a state of well-being they are more likely to achieve success? It is interesting to us that those who attempt to reduce stress in high-pressure academic environments and provide students with tools to manage overwhelm and anxiety are often accused of “coddling” students. And, just for arguments sake, let’s say it IS coddling; is a little coddling such a terrible thing?

At Academics Plus, we applaud Mr. Richards’ efforts, for his intention seems to be to minimize stress and to encourage students to gain a fuller perspective of their academic achievements and goals. Performance in high school is only one aspect of the high school student and should not be the only part of the personality with which a student identifies. This is not to say that performance in school and grades are not important because they are! But high stress levels are becoming a widespread and alarming problem amongst American youth. It is important that, at a minimum, we provide students with tools and techniques that can minimize stress and overwhelm. And it sounds as though this is what Mr. Richards is trying to do. And for that we commend him.

We absolutely support students in reaching their academic goals and pursuing higher education but we also realize the importance of living a balanced and healthy life. And sometimes that means taking some time to relax. A task (yes, it often, paradoxically, is considered a task) that is not always so easy! So promoting yoga and mindfulness is an initiative we fully support.

In fact, we promote yoga as well. We encourage students to participate in activities such as yoga, meditation and mindful breathing as these activities often serve to help them alleviate some of the anxiety or self-inflicted pressure that interferes with their ability to perform to their potential. Our goal at Academics Plus is to help students reach their academic goals without the stress and strain commonly experienced. In fact, we even published an entire workbook dedicated to addressing the non-academic factors (including stress, test-anxiety, limiting self-concepts) that can interfere with performance on the SAT, called The SAT Success System: Personal Workbook. Although the book is aimed at helping students manage the overwhelm that typically accompanies SAT preparation, the concepts and techniques that are introduced can be applied to any academic (or personal or job-related) arena as well. So, we would like to say kudos to Mr. Richards and thank you!

For your reference, here are 3 more links to blogs or articles written about Mr. Richards if you would like to read more.

The first supports Mr. Richards’ initiative to create a more supportive and less stressful academic arena: Decreasing High School Stress by Paulina (in favor of initiative). The second is neutral: 8th Period Stress Relief by Danielle Woods (neutral). And the third seems to condemn the initiative Public School Follies: Y Is for Yoga by Michelle Malkin (not in favor). Once again, thanks for allowing us to interrupt our series on SAT hints to share our opinion about this topic.