IT is heartbreaking to listen to the recent stories of conflict, aggression and violence among youngsters in our school system. Undoubtedly, the challenges in our society are multitudinous and include poverty, child neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse which contribute significantly to the anger, aggression and wrath found among some of our students.

Emotional intelligence is sorely lacking as schools focus primarily on academic learning, cognitive ability and sports, and not emotional well-being. It is time that we refocus the system of education to be all-encompassing, thereby looking at the holistic student. There must be a combination of cognitive ability and emotional intelligence in order to achieve well-balanced adults who contribute positively to nation-building.

Emotional intelligence is the ability to be aware of, and to manage one’s feelings. It encompasses intrapersonal and interpersonal functions and includes empathy, how to apply emotions to problem-solving, as well as impulse control. It is just as important as the cognitive ability. In fact, some psychologists believe that emotional intelligence is more important than IQ in determining one’s success in life. It has actually been shown that the most successful people were generally those with highly developed interpersonal and social skills and not those with high IQs.

It is a misnomer that emotional intelligence is innate and that it develops naturally throughout childhood. For many children, this is not the case and they need to be taught explicitly through classroom instruction, role playing and modelling. We live in a society where emotional intelligence is overlooked and unsupported, yet, managing one’s emotions is absolutely critical for life.

Indisputably, the system of education is stressed. We are all struggling. Our teachers are overworked and under-compensated. Despite these challenges, it is time that the curriculum in schools be revitalised and modernised to take us into the 21st century. There is a wealth of evidence proving the benefits of emotional learning in the classroom, especially from an early age. If schools provide consistent positive messaging along with reinforcement, our students will gain strategies to control impulsive behaviour and will improve academic performance.

Studies suggest that if students have a high emotional intelligence they:

•Deal with test anxiety effectively and perform under exam stress

•Maintain concentration and focus even during dull and uninteresting topics

•Build resilience so that they remain goal-oriented even after receiving a disappointing grade

•Avoid procrastination

•Are intrinsically motivated

•Are less likely to abuse alcohol, drugs and tobacco

•Have lower levels of anxiety and depression

•Have more friends

•Are empathetic.

Raising one’s emotional intelligence involves:

•Becoming aware of one’s feelings, identifying and understanding how to name them. This is known as emotional literacy. (I am angry, I am shocked, I am happy, I am pleased). The simple act of naming emotions reduces the emotional reaction.

•Seeing failures as opportunities to learn rather than being a setback, thus building resilience

•Practising active listening techniques

•Maintaining a positive attitude. This may include mindfulness, meditation or positive affirmations

•Self-reflection.

Everyone has emotional intelligence, but for many, this is under-developed and is an untapped resource. One cannot become more emotionally intelligent overnight. It is something that develops over time with learning, intentional practice and feedback. Emotional intelligence can be taught and should most definitely be taught in our schools.

Dr Karla Hylton is the founder and CEO of Your Empowerment Solutions (YES) Institute, offering mathematics and science tutoring as well as a host of workshops for parents, teachers, and students. She is the author of Yes! You Can Help Your Child Achieve Academic Success and Complete Chemistry for Caribbean High Schools. Reach her at (876) 564-1347; e-mail: ceo@yes-institute.com; or visit www.yes-institute.com, or www.khylton.com.