Mental health and academic achievement

A recent article in the New York Times, "Record Level of Stress Found in College Freshmen," juxtaposes falling student mental health with record-breaking levels of academic performance. In a national survey from 2010, the percentage of freshman students in college who reported above average mental health is a mere 52 percent - the lowest level in a quarter-century, according to Tamar Lewin, author of the article. Lewin also speculates that, because more women reported being stressed than men, some men withheld actual reports of emotional health issues, since boys are typically socialized to be less responsive when talking about feelings. At the same time, students' drive to "achieve" and overall academic ability have been rising, with three-quarters of the students polled now stating that their skills are above average. This phenomenon may be a reflection of the growing perception that a Bachelor's degree is no longer enough to get a well-paying job after college. And that, in turn, is how students start to think while still in high school...

So maybe it's time to start looking at what we want our students to value in high school: grades or a sense of balance? Grades are important, but do we really want middle and high schoolers to turn into “successful” college freshmen who, nevertheless, harbor intense mental health problems? After all, as the recent shooting in Tucson, Arizona suggests…we don’t know what may come of emotional problems that spiral out of control. Probably nothing good. So let’s reduce stress and think about enjoying learning for a change…

To continue the conversation on education and our students’ future, attend the Tutorpedia Foundation’s 2nd Annual Benefit on February 23, 2011 in San Francisco. We will hear from Vicki Abeles, director of Race to Nowhere, along with featured speakers Dennis Littky of Big Picture Learning and Farb Nivi of Grockit. Don't miss our exciting auction items, take part in the raffle, and try the delicious food! All proceeds from the event will benefit one-on-one tutoring for under-privileged students in the Bay Area.