Writer Ellie Mathews has some strong advice for schools: work on the first-year transition.
Coming together is a big step for most young people, and they need some guidance, Ellie argues.
In schools, social dynamics are often overlooked by adults, and at times, young people need help forming bonds. Teachers could lead the way to help everyone feel like they belong to the community, says Ellie.
“I think addressing this problem means addressing exclusion and inclusion. That’s hard, because teachers can’t really enforce their students’ ‘kindness,’ but we can’t keep letting exclusion go on,” she says.
Ellie’s podcast gives her solution to this problem that has challenged schools for years.
Ellie Mathews is a sophomore at Lincoln Academy in Newcastle.