School - more than an educational institution?

Originally schools were meant to prepare kids academically for their future. Teaching them math, languages, geography and science. Getting them ready for a life as an adult, finding their vocation, their profession in order to being able to earn enough money to minimum survive or even become prosperous and rich.

Gaining knowledge and growing general knowledge for everyday life!

That's the purpose of a school - or?

No, schools are much more, or should be much more. A school for life should teach integration, taking responsibility, building personal strength, finding your passion, creating culture, teaching kids to be courageous and lion-headed.

Kids should be adventurers, learn to be kind, helpful, taking the right decisions and acting responsible, think creative and learn to make mistakes. Learn to communicate and question things, being a role model. That is a lot on top of academics, but in my option equal important, if not even more important.

General academic knowledge is definitely needed but more important are the soft skills to be trained.

There are many well educated people and academic geniuses out there, but do they all understand how to successfully lead a team or effectively circulate or pass on knowledge. Our society does need more empathetic people and schools need to adapt to that.

Pressure became extremely high to succeed, to have the best education, the best school, the best university. Without minimum a bachelor, you seem to be nothing. Great theoretical knowledge seem to be the gate to success.

Have you ever read a job offer / description lately? It is nearly impossible to fulfil the companies expectations, but they are all on the academical side. Therefore I do understand that schools and universities try to prepare their kids for this. But having worked long years, I

realized that empathetic leaders where the better ones. People who followed their passion, who not only choose their employees by their highest scores in their Bachelor or Master, but take the time to see if these people fit into their team - personally.

My kids are very fortunate to be in a school, where all these soft skills play an important role. Although they can't see this yet, they will appreciate their school system and curriculum later. Even you cannot teach EQ, you can constantly show the benefits of these soft skills and incorporate them in the kids schedules. It will become habits and will raise them to responsible, generous and respected leaders.

We have to have a good balance of academics and soft skills.

And there is another important factor. The school should not only be an educational institution. Make it a welcoming and embracing community where kids and families feel safe, understood and welcome - for a life time. Where friendships are created.

Belonging to somewhere is so important and might be underestimated.