Nesu Kwaramba brings his latest Word on the Street to help Christian parents talk to their children who think school is a waste of time
Over the last couple of decades, various socio-economic, political, and cultural developments have contributed to the advanced and complex world we now live in. One of the outcomes of this transformation is that the world of work has undergone a structural overhaul, emerging as a landscape that includes all kinds of new and novel professional choices and career paths. Against this backdrop, one of the colossal questions is: does school still hold the key position it once held in contemporary society? More importantly, what do we say to the significant proportion of young people who think that school is a waste of their time?
School sucks!
While various factors are undermining the provision of good quality primary and secondary education (such as the current staff recruitment and retention crisis), of greater concern is the attitude of many young people towards school (Proverbs 17:16). Some contemporary research has found school to be the greatest contributing factor to negative mental health outcomes among some young people in Years 5 to 13. It has also shown that school enjoyment can be extremely low at times.
In an age of technological prowess, speed may be the buzzword—but you cannot microwave sustainable success
The cries against onerous school rules, homework stress, and the pressure to succeed in exams are perennial. Young people are also bemoaning the lack of sufficient support for mental health and special educational needs (SEND)—a burden that is proving overwhelming for many schools. As if this weren’t enough, the steady rise of professions that seemingly require less formal education—as well as apps like ChatGPT—have led many young people to question the value of formal education and hard work.
For many, school simply doesn’t make sense. Why go? Why try?
Against this tide of apathy, it is essential that parents help their children understand the value of school—and of education in a broader sense.
More than classrooms, curricula and codes
Yes, the education system isn’t perfect, but there is more to school than young people often realise - and parents can help them to see this. School can be stressful; homework deadlines, the high stakes of exams, and conflictual peer-to-peer relationships (or “beef” and “tea”—please ask a young person what these mean) can make school difficult. Yet these very struggles are part of ‘normal’ life. The world of work is full of deadlines (e.g., project deadlines) and tests (like interviews and vocational assessments) and relational conflict is inevitable. School, therefore, is an opportunity for young people to develop resilience and time management skills (Proverbs 24:16; 24:1; Proverbs 21:5); a time for them to discover strategies for managing stress and pressure; a time to learn how to rely on the ultimate source of strength in times of trouble (Proverbs 18:10; Isaiah 40:31). Truthfully, some school rules do appear rather burdensome – but learning to submit to authority in a discerning way is an essential life skill.
Moreover, school offers a place for young people to learn how to advocate for their beliefs, via school councils or through respectful, reasoned arguments to school staff. These skills are often needed in the world beyond school, where injustices abound and require persuasive, effective advocates.
How vital the school years are for sharing with children that they were fashioned by their Father to fulfil a purpose that will in turn fulfil them (John 4:34; Ecclesiastes 2:24)
Yes, the school system is naturally more navigable for some students – those who excel in academics, sports, or extracurricular activities like music and public speaking. And yes, those with special educational needs or other challenges can face disadvantages. That said, while we should continue to lobby for adjustments from education providers, it’s worth remembering that school is a microcosm of the world at large, it is, at times, unfair! Certain people do get a head start in life for various reasons. For young people, the classroom is an opportunity to learn how to play to their strengths and cooperate with the God whose strength is made perfect in weakness—because everyone has weaknesses and limitations (2 Corinthians 12:9).
There is much a young person can learn about life from the world of classrooms curricula and codes and we’ve yet to touch on one of the most vital roles school plays: the discovery of a young person’s purpose.
The power of purpose
It’s essential today that young people know they were made on purpose, for a purpose (Jeremiah 1:5; Ephesians 2:10). How vital the school years are for sharing with children that they were fashioned by their Father to fulfil a purpose that will in turn fulfil them (John 4:34; Ecclesiastes 2:24).
Without some form of work, a person will be miserable. We are made with a desire to work, build, create, invent, solve problems, and bring order to chaos – just like our Father, in whose image we are created (Genesis 1:26; 2:2–3; John 5:17).
It is true that in today’s world there are careers which seem to require less formal education or “work” (such as being an online gamer, social media influencer, footballer, musical artist, painter, or actor. So yes, not every profession or career path requires the same level of formal education. And indeed, many people end up in jobs they didn’t go to school for.
Read more:
Parents are the key to bridging the gap between church and school
Gifts not grades: Recognising every young person’s God-given talents
Roadman, drill and chavs: A guide to help Christian parents
Yet even these vocations require hard work, planning, and preparation to thrive in and earn a living from – not to mention that many of them are incredibly specialised and competitive. It helps to remind young people how disciplined professional footballers must be; how much training and self-restraint famous artists endure; and how stressful it is to meet the relentless demand for content as a social media influencer. Success in these areas is not “easy,” nor is it ultimately sustainable (Proverbs 6:6–9).
Even Jesus had to study (Luke 2:45–46).
Some sense in school
Ultimately, a certain level of schooling provides you with a basic and reasonably comprehensive understanding of how the world works, how to acquire the information needed for your needs, and how to work with others. After all, this is a world of people, and relational skills like teamwork and respect – often developed in school settings – are crucial in the workplace.
Moreover, whatever God has called you to, hard work, planning, and discipline will be necessary for success. You cannot work in the world if you do not understand how the world works.
In an age of technological prowess, speed may be the buzzword—but you cannot microwave sustainable success. School has many ways of helping young people understand this.
