21 tips for schools today

After 25 years in education, I have learned a great deal from others and through experiences have developed a keen sense of what is needed in schools.

Here are my 21 tips to get you closer to where you want to and ought to be with regards to providing a 21st century education to your students. Our goal should be to set higher standards in education.

1. Provide opportunities for students to practice their communication skills in a safe environment so that they develop a high level of comfort in public speaking.
2. Challenge students to learn multiple languages with the vision of broadening their ability to work and live globally.
3. Educate to instill an appreciation for diversity, inclusion and pluralism.
4. Demand of students a high level of proficiency on a number of digital platforms. Their technological skills must be diverse, transferable and adaptable.
5. Focus on heightening self-esteem, self-respect and self-worth.
6. Develop empathy, caring and kindness.
7. Foster character defining values.
8. Encourage students to develop their creativity and ability to express themselves through a variety of mediums.
9. Create conditions for cooperation and collaboration so students learn to work together towards common goals.
10. Develop global citizenship by emphasizing a vision of improved humanity for all.
11. Provide the framework for community service learning so that students are exposed to and develop an appreciation for helping others in need and move from school-mandated service to a more authentic model of personal choice service.  
12. Develop broad leadership skills because every industry requires servant leaders at every level.
13. Teach the importance of respecting the environment and the value of sustainable projects to protect our planet.
14. Promote and foster resilient behaviours to counter the negative impact of high anxiety and unhealthy stress.
15. Encourage a growth mindset and an attitude of lifelong learning.
16. Provide a wide and diverse offering of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities to allow students to discover their interests and pursue their passions.
17. Value the teaching that takes place outside the classroom as much as what is learned in class.
18. Provide academic, social-emotional and life guidance to adequately prepare students for their next steps.
19. Organize job shadowing, internships or any form of practical workplace experience.
20. Make the pedagogy engaging, the content relevant and the evaluation of learning flexible.
21. Be kind and caring. Be supportive and understanding. Be challenging and nurturing.

The goal is to provide each child with what they need to reach their potential. We are in the business of making dreams come true, one day at a time with each individual we have in our care.

We are shaping young minds, creating future leaders and educating for a brighter tomorrow.