Children who find it difficult to learn to read or write, adolescents with a blank mind looking at the blackboard while waiting for recess time to look at the cell phone screen. Are we talking about neglect or school apathy?
What until recently was considered a problem of miscellaneous distractions today becomes the focus of attention when analyzed in a new light. ¿What is and why does school apathy occur?? Are we talking about a syndrome or the consequences of living in a fast-paced world?
Let's talk about school apathy
Today school apathy is a serious problem that is part of today's education. Is about students who show great disinterest in everything related to learning. School apathy can appear in different ways: from children who bother in class and distract their classmates, even by way of "mental absence”, Which means that the child is physically present even though his mind wanders to other places or thoughts. School apathy can also appear when it comes to children who are very focused on their own worries and problems, which leads them to disengage from what is happening in the classrooms.
Beyond what is boredom or distraction, what distinguishes school apathy is that it is a complete disinterest in learning. We are talking about students who do not present learning disorders or difficulties related to previous knowledge but children and adolescents who refuse and resist learning because there is nothing that challenges them beyond the efforts of the teacher on duty.
Fight boredom
While there is still much room for improvement in terms of current educational system, in which old pedagogies persist that do not quite adapt to the needs of today's children, the truth is that there are teachers who develop various strategies to attract the attention of students and get them interested in their content. However, this goes unnoticed by children with school apathy. It even happens that the problem extends beyond the borders of the school, with an apathy that is present in all areas of their lives.
Is this problematic fruit of the current era? An individualistic and consumer-oriented model that is a product of postmodernity may be part of the problem. Many children today are used to immediate consumption and, consequently, to the satisfaction of needs on a permanent basis. What happens when nothing satisfies them anymore? Anxiety or depression appears and in the classroom this becomes visible: there are no more questions or interest, just ghosts at their respective desks.
How to get interest in school
Undoubtedly, it is not an easy task for children with school apathy begin to be interested in learning, however there are several strategies that can help and be useful when it comes to achieving curiosity, a sense of belonging and the appropriation of learning.
The first thing is to detect those children who show extreme disinterest and resist studying. It is key to dedicate time to offer them a personalized style from the hand of the school cabinet. Once the reasons for school apathy, there are some pedagogical strategies and resources depending on the case:
- offer simple tasks in cases of children with lack of confidence in themselves.
- offer teaching that links the content with the real life of children.
- investigate the family situation to then detect possible problems and thus develop joint strategies with parents.
- Ask parents to show interest in learning at school because students who find family support and support will feel that what they do at school is important.
Undoubtedly, one of the great secrets for overcome children's school apathy is that family and school work hand in hand to achieve children's interest in learning at school.