The Role of Faith in Social-Emotional Learning and Psychological Well-Being
By Michael Schwartzman
During one of my first observations in a Saint David ’ s classroom 15 years ago , I witnessed two first grade boys in a verbal altercation . Although it was contained just between the two boys , their observant teacher had them talk it through and then shake hands on being in a better place for having done so . I was very impressed , and still am , with this approach that the school takes many times throughout the day . It helps establish a firm idea of how to behave , especially in social situations where emotions can be stirred and run high . Through this experience repeated consistently day in and day out , better , more productive ways of engaging become increasingly integrated by the boys as they develop socially and emotionally in interaction with each other . As the School Psychologist , I spend a lot of time thinking about the touch points for student and teacher and how school experiences impact the social and emotional development and psychological well-being of our boys . As much as Saint David ’ s is a rigorous training ground for academic subjects , it remains deeply committed to the task of developing good men . The essential ingredients of being a good man are drawn from the values handed down to us by the Catholic founders of Saint David ’ s School . Though translated into today ’ s language and applied to today ’ s issues , the “ code ” from which our approach is taken entails how we should treat each other . By learning and being trained in its consistent transparent application , our boys learn how to handle themselves in interpersonal situations where emotions can overwhelm judgment and behavior often falls short of expectations . The social-emotional lives of the students are sensitively monitored by our teachers , administrators , and staff so that all boys are guided through their individual and group experiences . Our school maintains a demanding but consistent code of behavior , through which each student is guided and taught . These standards are supported by discussions in Sophrosyne ( our character and well-being program ), advisory , and frequent conversations between teachers and students . It has always impressed me that when you ask a Saint David ’ s boy to account for himself , he immediately takes responsibility for his actions . Having worked closely with boys for many years , I know that this is not generally the case with boys . Yet , when applied consistently and reinforced quickly , as it is at Saint David ’ s , it can become a very operable capacity and an extremely valuable ability . We understand this capacity as one that incorporates self-recognition , self-understanding , self-reflection , empathy , kindness , and many other values that are emphasized at Saint David ’ s . As expectations change with age and grade , each boy is held accountable and asked to speak up for himself and others when behavior is not in keeping with the standards held by our school . At Saint David ’ s , the basis for our moral and ethical teachings comes from the traditional lessons of the school ’ s founding faith . The underlying principles about how people are meant to get along with each other , grounded on a clear idea of right and wrong , are applied to our student community to guide our boys in their thinking , judgments , and interactions . Saint David ’ s offers a religious component , but each student takes this aspect of school life in his own personal way . The boys learn from respectful observance or active participation , depending on their particular family ’ s religious practice and emphases . What is important to the school is that each student takes in the ethical values that Saint David ’ s promotes and learns to faithfully apply them to relational experiences . As a young Jewish boy , I attended a faith-based school , the Ethical Culture School , from kindergarten through 12th grade . I took ethics class weekly in which we were taught how to think and talk about values and morals as we reflected on the world around us . Just as Saint David ’ s relies on Catholic traditions , Ethical Culture was rooted in a similar emphasis on ethical relationships among people and I found these
Boys experience a sense of accomplishment and well-being as they master the demands of the virtues and values of Saint David ’ s .
16 • Saint David ’ s Magazine