The following is an excerpt from "Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being" by Martin Seligman  (2011)

 

 

"Question one: in one or two words, what do you most want for your children?

 

If you are like the thousands of parents polled you responded, “Happiness,” “Confidence,” “Contentment,” “Fulfillment,” “Balance,” “Good stuff,” “Kindness,” “Health,” “Satisfaction,” “Love,” “Being civilized,” “Meaning,” and the like. In short, well-being is your topmost priority for your children.

 

Question two: in one or two words, what do schools teach?

 

If you are like other parents, you responded, “Achievement,” “Thinking skills,” “Success,” “Conformity,” “Literacy,” “Math,” “Work,” “Test taking,” “Discipline,” and the like. In short, what schools teach is how to succeed in the workplace.

 

Notice that there is almost no overlap between the two lists.

 

The schooling of children has, for more than a century, paved the boulevard toward adult work. I am all for success, literacy, perseverance, and discipline.  Imagine that schools could, without compromising either, teach both the skills of well-being and the skills of achievement. Imagine positive education."

 

Read more at Positive Education: An Overview