To the Editor:

Oxford Hills school district Superintendent Heather Manchester gave a keynote speech during the quarterly positive behavior recognition assembly on Nov. 26 at the High School. Three quotes from that speech are: 

1) “And you can write a gratitude or thank you note. Doing this once a week can significantly improve your mental health”

2) “A single act of gratitude produces an immediate 10% increase in happiness and a 35% decrease in depressive symptoms”

3) “You are the future of our community. So, we need you to learn all the things”.

Knowing that any Superintendent of any public school found it appropriate to include these three statements when addressing a group of High School students is inspiring, encouraging and uplifting to say the least.

Now, let’s walk the talk. Let’s not settle for only a 10% increase in happiness and a 35% decrease in depressive symptoms.

Let’s make gratitude a required part of the curriculum as well as self awareness, respect for others, healthy relationships, accountability, breath work, positive self talk, compassion, acceptance, etc.

Now, I know from experience (26 years of teaching in public Middle Schools), that nothing is going to change unless there is proof/evidence to show that test scores will go up. Please, ask any teacher, ask any administrator if they believe, in their heart of hearts, that with more happiness and less depression, test scores will indeed go up.

I agree with Heather, we need people to learn all of these things, including gratitude.

Robert Dow

Waterford