88
Volume:
2019
,
October

At Risk

Submitted By:
Molly Swain, Milton Academy, Milton, MA

Students in high-achieving schools are now named an 'at-risk' group, study says by Jennifer Breheny Wallace

The Washington Post, September 26, 2019

A study comparing affluent youth to some of the most at-risk students in the country is not one to be taken lightly. In a striking statement, Breheny Wallace references a report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation which concludes that "excessive pressure to excel" is one of the "top environmental conditions harming adolescent wellness." (In the study, other factors include poverty, trauma, and discrimination.) Wallace highlights the challenges created by the growing pressure to get into a top college and then to attain a lofty career. She reminds us that activities that historically brought us joy, such as athletics and art, now serve as check marks on a resume and another chance to outshine one's peers. The study also shows that certain mental health issues are arising at high-achieving schools at a rate that is higher than the national average. Wallace concludes that "students have been fed the myth that there is only one, narrow path to success – acceptance to a prestigious college." In an effort to provide a corrective, she notes the importance of setting priorities for children that value and support qualities of good character over academic achievement, as well as the need for a commitment to a balanced life.

Categories
Student Wellness & Safety
Social-Emotional Learning