It's the subject of much debate (and not all of it civil) - who offers, or has completed, the toughest degree program? Recent discord arose on social media earlier this year when it was claimed that the Guinness Book of World Records had recognised the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) as the world's toughest degree program. It was claimed that the course contained 64 university exams, in addition to 164 series exams and 174 assignments within two years...
Referring to a “Type A Personality” might seem impressive, characterising someone who manages to confidently balance all aspects of their life, get everything done singlehandedly and still hold themselves to impossible high standards. However, this label is masking the dangers of perfectionism, an outlook that can damage the happiness and development of even the most talented of students. In some cases, perfectionism can leader to higher grades and a more diligent attitude to work...
As frightening as it may sound, the moment of diagnosis for anyone with Special Educational Needs (SEN) can be amongst the most important moments in their lives. Diagnosis can be a moment of realisation for students, parents and teachers. From a practical sense, it allows schools to provide access to additional resources including assistive technology, specialised teaching programs or the services of professionals such as educational psychologists. These resources help to meet children’s academic, emotional or social needs. Diagnosing a student as early as possible helps ameliorate any potential attainment gaps that might emerge, as well as allowing some students to bond more effectively with their peers and enjoy better wellbeing...
If you are lucky enough to be the parent of a natural bookworm, supporting your child can be a simple matter of regular bookshop or library visits, allowing them enough time and space to pursue their interests, and perhaps occasionally reminding them to balance their bibliomania with some fresh air. The majority of parents likely want to encourage a love of books in their child as the benefits of such a passion are well documented. Children who read regularly enjoy advantages in academic achievement, writing skills, general knowledge and vocabulary growth. Reading helps to...
In our first column of this new chapter, we reflected on the important of self-belief in successful learning. This week, we’ll be considering a seemingly contradictory approach – threats of failure. Conventionally, it might seem as though the role of the parent and teacher is to encourage students.
Welcome to the first column of a new chapter. For more than ten years, Smart Lessons by Brighten has brought readers of The Standard cutting edge education stories from around the world, regarding these developments with our unique, critical lens, and helping parents, educators and students stay abreast of the most important developments in teaching, learning and personal development.
In response to the growing number of book bans in the US - many of which we have reported on in this column - publisher Penguin Random House has launched a new competition, offering a US$10,000 prize to high school seniors planning to attend university in 2024. The prize runs alongside four other prizes, for poetry, memoir, fiction/drama and spoken word.
It is natural for parents to worry about any child going off to university for the first time, particular if that journey involves studying in another country. However, companies in the US are capitalising on this anxiety by offering college rent-a-parents. Billed as a new type of concierge service, companies are offering students in the US an adult for hire that will perform a number of pseudo parental functions, including the provision of meals, making beds, general cleaning and course advice – many of the even give hugs if necessary.
The decision to limit the size of a family is complex. The parents of only children might find themselves in this situation for several serious reasons, including health and financial concerns. The notion that only children are spoiled and overprotected is the legacy of questionable research conducted in the nineteenth-century by Stanley G. Hall and associated scholars. Parents of only children might worry that their upbringing might impact their social skills.
For young people around the world, university is no longer an inevitable step between school and a solid career. Gen-Z are rethinking their options,- and with good reason. In the United States, four million fewer teenagers enrolled at a college in 2022 than in 2012.
For many, the price tag has simply grown too exorbitant to justify the cost. From 2010 to 2022, college tuition rose an average of 12 percent a year, while overall inflation only increased an average of 2.6 percent each year.
