September is the time for school to start, and many students are starting to returning to school. As the saying goes, “Those who are close to vermilion are red, those who are close to ink are black”. The formation of a person’s character is not only influenced by innate factors but also shaped more by the environment they grow up in. Previously, we discussed the influence of family on one’s personality. This time, let’s talk about the impact of school education on one’s character.
Schools have a concrete influence on the formation of students’ personalities because during the educational phase, most of our time is spent in school. Therefore, the school’s atmosphere and culture can subtly affect students’ personalities. Students who have good teacher-student relationships or receive affirmation, love, and respect within their class or group tend to be optimistic, confident, and hopeful about life and themselves. They are more likely to build teamwork with others. Conversely, students who experience tense teacher-student relationships or face rejection, exclusion, or indifference within their class may develop feelings of inferiority. They are prone to harboring hostile thoughts and find it challenging to interact with others, being more critical of themselves and others.
Adolescence is a critical period for the budding of personalities, and entering high school is a pivotal time for character development. Teachers play a important role during this period. Democratic teachers tend to have students with less inhibited personalities, cheerful emotions, and lively characters. Permissive teachers may result in students lacking organizational skills, unclear moral values, and difficulty in developing disciplined habits. If teachers are overly authoritarian and suppress students’ opinions, students may develop hypocritical and tactful personalities or become introverted and insecure. In extreme cases, it can lead to a teacher-student confrontation and rebellious character formation.
Children are like blank slates, as Proverbs 20:11 says, “Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.” Therefore, it is essential to “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
Finally, the influence of classmates is crucial. Students are originally very pure, but if there is bullying among classmates, it can cause significant trauma. Students who are bullied may resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms like avoidance, withdrawal, or aggression, which can persist into adulthood, affecting their future lives and development. Prolonged bullying can also lead to psychological trauma, such as depression and anxiety, which can affect a person for a lifetime. Therefore, it’s important to pay close attention to children’s school experiences and provide them with the support and love they need when necessary. May every child experience healthy growth in school.
Rev Li