I recently read an interesting article in the science news. Dr. Olaf Kruse, a biologist at Bielefeld University in Germany published research showing that plants can use other plants as a source of energy in addition to the well-known process of photosynthesis. We all know that plants need water and...
Two leopards casually wandering the Camel’s Back Road in Mussoorie late one night were captured on CCTV cameras last week – a remarkable reminder that we live close to nature in this beautiful mountain environment. Of course, these are very shy creatures and most unlikely to appear when people are...
Two weeks ago, I came across a fascinating concept I hadn’t heard of before. I discovered it through an article kindly sent to me by a Woodstock parent. The article was a summary of Dr Susan David’s new book, 'Emotional Agility'. This concept of emotional agility has helped me to...
This week, the entire school will be out on Activity Week - one of the most unique and formative aspects of a Woodstock education. With activities carefully selected to be appropriate to the age-group concerned and accompanied by experienced staff, students will have a remarkable opportunity to explore our stunning Himalayan...
Several times recently different people have forwarded me the following TED Talk by Julie Lythcott-Haims - academic, author and the former Dean of Freshmen at Stanford: [embed width="600" height="480"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nd2ORQOSfw[/embed] It’s a great talk – and I recommend it. Her latest book, “How to Raise an Adult”. Lythcott-Haines makes a powerful case against parents...
Fascinating research published by the American Medical Association reports the results of a survey on over 90,000 teenagers – one of the largest ever carried out. The research concluded that ‘emotional connectedness’ was the single most significant factor in protecting young people from emotional distress, violent behaviour, substance abuse and...
Muscle memory Going to the gym everyday has been a ritual of mine for more than 30 years. 25 years ago, when one of our daughters was still very young, I set up a small gym in the basement of our house. Every evening I’d make my way down the stairs to...
A chalkboard was placed in the middle of New York City recently. It invited people who passed by to write down their biggest regrets. What followed was fascinating. Remarkably, people stopped in front of the empty chalkboard and had the courage to write down the things they regretted most. Gradually...
Successful intelligence According to Robert Sternberg, Dean of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University in the United States, real success in life comes not from test scores and exam results but from what he defines as a synthesis of wisdom, intelligence and creativity – what he calls 'successful intelligence'. Sternberg experimented...
Woodstock School Principal, Dr Long, on how important perseverance is to achieving our full educational potential. Delaying gratification One of the most famous behavioural experiments of the 20th century was carried out at Stanford University in 1972. A marshmallow was offered to children on the understanding that if they could resist eating...
