Page 6 - EdViewptsSpring2021

A Balanced Approach

By Dr. Thomas Gorman, Superintendent of Schools, Ridgewood

Part of the education school, and community. Together, While schools were created to educate

process is for students to an effective learning environment is students, they have now become
places that work with the whole child
developed to produce an educated
learn how to create good young adult who will be a lifelong and address many of their biological
and positive relationships learner, able to contribute positively to and psychological needs. In addition,
society.
the world is moving ever more rapidly
with people and to be able Unfortunately, anxiety, depression, with the increased speed of the
to work in a demanding school avoidance, self-harm, and internet and social media. Students
suicide have increased significantly are confronted with more societal
environment. The process of over the past two decades. More pressures than ever before, and they
growing into mature young adults is schools are struggling with how to have to make choices in real time.
exactly that, a process. Schools are cope with this new phenomenon while Schools are difficult places for stu-
more than the four “A’s” that comprise still educating all students and most dents to navigate and with outside and
a student’s educational experience: especially the ones exhibiting social personal pressures on them, they can
academics, athletics, arts, and and emotional issues. get lost quickly. Creating a nurturing
activities. The key to success is to There is no one cause to these environment that gives students choic-
balance the four “A’s” with the values problems and no one solution. This es but also holds them accountable is
and goals of family and community. To multifaceted problem requires different one approach to helping students suc-
educate a child effectively requires a approaches to helping students, and ceed and prepare them for life beyond
tremendous amount of collaboration some instances require assistance high school.
and effort among the child, family, from professionals outside the school.

Educational Viewpoints -4- Spring 2021