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Britain
British school to offer happiness lessons
2006-04-18
One of Britain's leading fee-paying schools is to offer classes on happiness to combat the malaise in society caused by materialism and celebrity obsession, its headteacher announced Monday. "We are introducing classes on happiness," said Anthony Seldon, master of Wellington College, in Crowthorne, Berkshire, west of London. "We have been focusing too much on academics and missing something far more important." A psychologist will oversee a pilot project teaching "happiness lessons" - or "well-being" as it is being called - from the start of the next academic year. Pupils aged 14 to 16 will be given one lesson a week, learning skills such as how to manage relationships, physical and mental health, negative emotions and how to achieve one's ambitions.
Posted by:Fred

#14  Edward, that should probably be a extracurricular class. Way too much to be taught there for some kids.
Posted by: BA   2006-04-18 23:28  

#13  Thinemp - Islamic students can substitute the class on seething.
Posted by: DMFD   2006-04-18 21:06  

#12  [cue the music]
Always look on the bright side of life.
[whistling]
Always look on the bright side of life...
Posted by: xbalanke   2006-04-18 20:54  

#11  Actually, BA, I think that one of the better things that can be taught is, frankly, how to avoid being fucked up as a person...
Posted by: Edward Yee   2006-04-18 19:28  

#10  I assume the muslims will be excused from class. After all, there is nothing happy about submission and there is likely a fatwa against happiness. Even if not, it will most certainly offend them.
Posted by: Thinemp Whimble2412   2006-04-18 18:32  

#9  Religion.
Posted by: anonymous2u   2006-04-18 12:24  

#8  "We have been focusing too much on academics and missing something far more important."

Sadly, this is getting to be the normal state of affairs here in the States too. If only we'd go back to the "3 R's" (readin', ritin', 'ritmitic) instead of teaching "feelings, self-worth, tolerance, etc." This still leads to one of the most true summaries of our 2 political parties to date..."Liberals make decisions (when they actually make a decision) based upon emotion, while Conservatives make decisions based upon facts."
Posted by: BA   2006-04-18 09:58  

#7  A psychologist? Tranquility, perhaps; Happiness, no.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-04-18 09:25  

#6  Humm, that soma sure tastes good! Goody!
Posted by: anonymous5089   2006-04-18 09:00  

#5  Ya know, they mocked Thatcher for wanting Brits to have happiness through positive actions and work. (one of the worst DOCTOR WHO episodes ever, THE HAPPINESS PATROL, was explicit about this)

Now, they're really getting V FOR VENDETTA courtesy of Blair's shiny "happy" fascism, and the only thing that they are complaining about is his hypocrisy in actually fighting for freedom in Iraq.
Posted by: Ernest Brown   2006-04-18 08:26  

#4  D*** it, does this mean no scantily clad bosomy Brit babes. or well-dressed bosomy Brit babes reminding the audience they have ****** bosoms.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2006-04-18 02:16  

#3  and Playboy channel
Posted by: Frank G   2006-04-18 01:01  

#2  Er, all they have is the Beeb?
Posted by: Seafarious   2006-04-18 01:00  

#1  Can't they just get those lessons from watching the telly?
Posted by: Penguin   2006-04-18 00:46  

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