Anthropologist Sander Hölsgens on The Conversation on what schools can learn from skate culture
Skateboarding philosophy can transform education in numerous ways. Together with colleagues, Sander researched the value of skateboarding in education, and how teachers can bring this philosophy into their classrooms. On The Conversation, a platform where academics and journalists collaborate, Sander talks more about his research.
One big part of the skateboarding philosophy is embracing failure as an essential part of learning. Just as skaters must fall repeatedly to master new tricks, students learn to view academic setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than reasons for discouragement.
‘Skateboarding is creative, requiring ingenuity in adapting to new environments. It’s collaborative and social: skaters cheer each other on when they try to learn something new, acknowledging that everyone operates at a different level and faces a distinct challenge.’