Redefining education as happiness

Professor Lord Richard Layard, British government adviser and chief happiness guru, has argued that the central purpose of schools should be to teach “the secrets of happiness”. He says he supports a new generation of teachers who specialise in “emotional intelligence” – inculcating values to pupils.

The response of the National Union of Teachers is worrying. It says it supports the happiness agenda in principle but it would be difficult to implement because teachers are so concerned with exams nowadays.

Frank Furedi argued on spiked against teaching happiness in schools back in July 2006. However, at that time the proposal was only to pilot “happiness lessons” in state schools. Layard’s suggestion goes a lot further.