1.4 Meaning of School Happiness

It refers to the level of happiness and wellbeing that student, Teachers and school community. The concept school happiness consists of diverse factors to contribute to a positive and unjoyful experience as key aspects of school happiness.

• Positive Learning Environment: The term “Positive Learning Environment” states a welcoming and inclusive school environment where students feel safe, respected, and supported can significantly impact their overall happiness. This includes well-maintained facilities, effective discipline policies, and a sense of community.
• Quality Education: The most significant element of school happiness is the quality of education. It includes engaging and effective teaching methods, a relevant and interesting curriculum, and opportunities for intellectual growth.
• Supportive Relationships: Positive relationships with teachers, classmates, and school staff can enhance students’ well-being. When students feel connected and supported by those around them, they are more likely to be happy and successful in school.
• Extracurricular Activities: Participation in extracurricular activities, such as sports, clubs, arts, and other hobbies, can contribute to a well-rounded and enjoyable school experience. These activities provide opportunities for personal growth and social interaction.
• Mental and Emotional Health: Schools that prioritize the mental and emotional well-being of their students through counselling services, stress management programs, and awareness campaigns can foster a happier and healthier school community.
• Recognition and Achievement: Celebrating students’ accomplishments, both big and small, can boost their self-esteem and overall happiness. Recognizing achievements can motivate students to strive for success.
• Parental Involvement: Engaged parents who actively support their children’s education can positively influence school happiness. Strong home-school partnerships can lead to better communication and a more supportive learning environment.
• Student Engagement: Active engagement in the learning process and a sense of purpose can contribute to school happiness. When students find meaning in their education, they are more likely to be motivated and content.
• Effective Classroom Management: Well-managed classrooms that maintain order and discipline without being overly punitive create an environment in which students can focus on learning and enjoy the educational experience.
• Inclusivity and Diversity: Schools that embrace diversity and promote inclusivity are more likely to create a positive and harmonious atmosphere where all students feel valued and appreciated.

In a nutshell, we can say that school happiness is a multidimensional concept, and it can vary from one individual to another. However, fostering a positive and supportive educational environment that addresses these aspects can contribute to the overall well-being and happiness of students and the entire school community.

1.4 Happy Schools: A Holistic Approach   to Education

Schools are called a miniature of society and are considered valuable instrumental contexts for developing happiness, well-being and socio-emotional learning among the younger generation for their endurance and its holistic development. Schools also contribute positive learning environment where children and teachers mobilize their natural, social and academic potential in full vigour. Being a miniature of society, schools prepare children for life skills by experiencing and perceiving conflicts in the surroundings within and outside of the four walls of their classrooms about peer context in a safe environment. But in India, every person in the society feels that school children are not happy and are also facing the repercussions of challenges that are more competitive, stressful, and test-focused than ever before. To see these challenges and problems, there is a dire need to explore common, comprehensive policy approaches. UNESCO is promoting the concept of Happy Schools that is based on a whole school approach taking multiple priority areas together. This major initiative of UNESCO focuses on the happiness of learners and teachers as a fundamental base for better and wider learning experiences to achieve quality education. For joyful experiences, there must be a linkage between happiness and learning.

Happy Schools: A happy School can be visualized as a place where there is no violence, no violation of rules and ethics and no act that offends the honour, or dignity of students and teachers. A happy school is a school where students, teachers and parents are happy with the learning environment. There is the spread of love, and joy cherished and fostered daily. According to UNESCO, A happy school supports the learning, health, and well-being of individuals, families and communities.  All students appreciate a school environment where bullying is rare, making friends is relatively easy, and establishing genuine and respectful relationships with teachers is the norm (OECD, 2019). Happy School visualizes the attributes of happiness and well-being. Social emotional learning and whole school approach.  School and community with collaboration explore and generate a happy, joyful learning environment. Happy schools recognize that fostering happiness and well-being is crucial for overall student success, academic achievement, and creating a positive learning environment that prepares students for life beyond the classroom.

Characteristics of Happy School:

• Safe place for teaching and learning activities
• There is no violent behaviour. Bullying is rare.
•  Focus on knowledge, skill and attitude
• Innovative ways of teaching, learning and assessment ways
•  Recognition of potential and providing an opportunity to polish
• Making friends is relatively easy, and establishing genuine and respectful relationships with teachers
• Management, teachers, and students are open to innovation
• Students learn content necessary for life and acquire self-related skills
•  Students highly value teachers because they are knowledgeable, attentive, helpful, sufficiently demanding, and able to explain their subject.
• Mistakes are valued as part of the learning process
• Students are encouraged to ask questions

Conclusion: Happiness is the ultimate purpose of life. It can be defined in positive emotions and life satisfaction. Hedonic happiness and Eudemonic Happiness are main theories of happiness. UNESCO has provided the concept of happy school based on school happiness. The present module visualized the characteristics of Happy School.