1.5 Education: The Decline in the Social Emotional Competencies of Secondary Children

John is an experienced secondary teacher of PE and math with over 35 years of experience. He discussed the decline in children's social-emotional and motor skills seen over his career, and noticeably at entry to school in Year 7. He noted that by the time students reach secondary school, many lack coping skills, resilience, and the ability to work in groups. Girls generally develop these skills faster than boys, creating challenges in co-educational settings.

John emphasized the need for a curriculum that addresses social-emotional development, noting that current practices focus too much on academic attainment. He highlighted the lack of training for secondary teachers in this area and the tension between pastoral and teaching staff. John suggested practical subjects like food tech could improve engagement and behavior.