PAI: Social and emotional learning key to effective discipline solutions

As reported in PISA 2015: Reporting Australia's Results, “About one-third of the students in advantaged schools, and about half of those in disadvantaged schools, reported that in most or every class there was noise and disorder, students didn’t listen to what the teacher said, and that students found it difficult to learn.”

Paul Geyer, CEO of Principals Australia Institute (PAI), says, “Fostering a focus on student wellbeing, through social and emotional learning programs, is crucial to turning around these worrying trends, improving students’ mental health, and creating better behavioural outcomes for schools.

“Research points to these wellbeing-focussed programs as being an important part of the solution to student discipline problems.

“Students experiencing mental health problems are less likely to engage with school work, and more likely to behave antisocially.

“Conversely, students who are mentally healthy experience fewer emotional, social or behavioural difficulties, and this has positive effects on their school work.

“In a nutshell: good mental health is a prerequisite to good learning.”

PAI delivers the KidsMatter Primary program to more than 3000 primary schools across Australia, and the MindMatters program to more than 1400 secondary schools.

PAI also offers Teacher Wellbeing Workshops, facilitated by former school principals and leaders, as professional development that enhances teachers’ social and emotional health.