One of the most strident supporters of Positive Education is the psychologist Dr Martin Seligman Director of the Positive Psychology Centre at the University of Pennsylvania, who created the acronym PERMA to demonstrate the pillars of Positive Psychology:
Positive Emotions & Health
Engagement
Relationships
Meaning and purpose
Achievement
Key to its success is developing a sense of wellbeing for students and staff so that they may flourish and find meaning in all that they do. It is this sense of meaningfulness, or purpose, that distinguishes Positive Psychology from philosophies that focus purely on ‘happiness’.
TAS has long had a history of offering opportunities in which they can develop a deep interest but also connect them to a cause bigger than oneself. Adventure trips, service projects and leadership programs all give students the means by which they can feel a sense of meaning, optimism and hope as they prepare to go into the world. Further programs are being developed to instil the pillars of Positive Education into all that we do.
Here is more information about Positive Psychology.
Seligman, M. Authentic Happiness (2002)
Seligman, M. Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Wellbeing (2011).
The Director of Pastoral Care Mr Adam (AJ) Whalley can be contacted by emailing him here.
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At the heart of the philanthropic centre of the School, since it was established in 1983, is the TAS Foundation. Its purpose is to generate funds to enable the School to give financial assistance and to continually develop the campus through new and improved facilities.
This year the projects we are looking for financial assistance are: