To matter: to be of importance, or to have significance.
The world has a mattering problem. When we’re very young, many of us have natural confidence, creativity and curiosity because we feel empowered and important. But somewhere along the way, too many of us start to think that we don’t matter. That our passion, skills or ideas are not valuable. When our belief in ourselves falters, we limit ourselves and stop reaching for greatness.
In the classroom, when students don’t feel that they matter, their performance suffers. They are less likely to collaborate with their peers and more likely to lose motivation and interest in lessons. Furthermore, research shows that when someone believes they don’t matter, it has a measurable negative impact on their self-esteem, and has been associated with depressive symptoms, anxiety and other forms of psychological distress.
Many of the challenges faced by society are fuelled by individuals creating conflict out of an unmet need to feel important. The root of many conflicts, including bullying, is often an individual’s lack of self-esteem and inability to treat themselves, and others, as valuable.
But if people’s beliefs about their value can have such a profound impact on individuals, classrooms and the world, why is society not doing more to ensure that every student knows they matter?
We at SMART believe that when students know they matter, they achieve great things. We believe that greatness exists in every student. We believe that it’s up to all of us to help them discover and develop it.
Because when students realize what they’re good at and what they love to do, they develop a sense of purpose, of mattering. Happiness, success and confidence all come from finding their purpose.
That is why we are honoured to put our company’s signature to Choose2Matter and Angela Maiers’ You Matter Manifesto.
This manifesto, led by former teacher and Choose2Matter founder Maiers, is a call to action that encourages us all to see, acknowledge and appreciate the greatness that lies in everyone. Our world will be a better place if we help those around us, especially children and young people, to believe in themselves and in their own greatness. The ripple effect caused by this will create healthier classrooms, stronger relationships and a better future for all.
Our commitment
We know that every student comes to school facing a unique set of challenges. And we know that teachers have incredible power to help every student, regardless of their circumstances, realise they are worthy; that they matter.
We also know that teachers are best able to help each student find their greatness when they have the tools and support to unleash their own. Students and teachers who are allowed to explore their potential will seek creative solutions to problems. They’ll take risks, and they won’t be afraid to fail.
We believe that the right technology, when paired with support for teachers and strong pedagogy, can make every classroom a place where each learner discovers, develops and shares their greatness. This belief drives every product we make.
We’re also making a commitment to amplifying stories of students, teachers and education leaders who are pursuing and sharing their greatness.
One of these students is Caleb, whose greatness lies in creating things. Together with his teacher, Oregon, US-based SMART Exemplary Educator Jody Bean, Caleb discovered his love of coding and has started down a path towards a career in software engineering. Meet Caleb and learn more about his story in this <video>.
What if every student in every classroom knew, as Caleb knows, that they had something unique and precious to contribute to the world? Imagine a world in which all students were inspired to reach for greatness.
Be a part of this conversation. Join us on Twitter, read and share the You Matter Manifesto, and come to listen to Maiers and Lord Jim Knight at our ISTE 2017 Spotlight Session.
ISTE 2017 runs from 25-28 June in San Antonio, US; Angela Maiers and Lord Jim Knight will be speaking at ‘A Global Imperative: how mattering will impact kids, schools and our world’ on 26 June
