November 6, 2014
I may be one of the few people that actually look forward to going to work on Mondays. In large part, that is because I attend the Lower School Monday Morning Meeting. I enjoy the excitement of the children as they begin their week and the enthusiasm with which they talk about upcoming activities. In particular, representatives from each grade level stand before their peers and share what they are working on in the classroom. I am amazed by the poise and confidence demonstrated by our students.
You may have occasionally found yourself wondering why effective communication is included in our mission statement. A recent study of employers completed by the Association of American Colleges and Universities found that employers highly value the ability to communicate effectively and the connection between speaking and critical thinking. For instance:
– 59% of employers believe that dialogue, debate, and problem solving in school will help students succeed in the workplace.
– 80% of employees say that colleges should focus more on written and oral communication skills.
– 93% say that a candidate’s capacity to think critically, communicate clearly and solve complex problems is more important than his or her college major.
Furthermore, the highest rated skill identified by the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ Job Outlook Survey 2013 was “the ability to verbally communicate with persons inside and outside the organization.”
While many schools have little time to spend on helping students develop communication, presentation and higher level thinking skills, at MPA, they are among our core values and are emphasized and integrated across our curriculum, from Lower School Morning Meetings to Senior Performances.
The ability to discover others’ perspectives and to come to new understandings are crucial 21st century education skills and are fundamental to success in today’s global society. I am not only proud of our students, I am proud that our school so highly values effective communication.
