The Language of Thanks and Appreciation in Schools: It's the Thought That Counts, Not the Spelling
A new school joined the TAP family last week and their thanking wall is already sprouting messages of thanks and appreciation from parents in the community, fantastic to see! This school has a large number of families recently arrived in Australia, and the platform is proving to be a force of connection and cohesion in a diverse school population.
This got us thinking about the universality of gratitude. It transcends cultures, borders, and often the nuances of written and spoken communication. Whether you’re sending a thank-you note, writing it in song, expressing appreciation in person, or conveying gratitude through a text message, the sentiment is what matters most. In today’s world, where we often feel our online footprint is subject to constant judgment, it’s important to remember that the essence of gratitude lies in the intention behind the message—not necessarily in the precision of spelling or grammar.
People want to thank each other. Even in cultures with an increasing focus on individualism and self-promotion, the desire to show appreciation still exists because we know that this is still one of the best ways to build the invisible threads of connection that hold our societies together. The public interface of Instagram, the 15 second flash of Snap, and the generationally divisive group mentality of Facebook can prevent people from feeling safe and supported enough to show vulnerability and to build each other up instead of tearing one another apart. If monitored in the right way, these platforms can also create and foster communities of support, but it depends on the moderating influences.
In school communities, this vulnerability to show gratitude and support without judgement is crucial to building a sense of trust and acceptance. Often the focus here is at the student level, encouraging students to show support. But, in the spirit of ‘do what I do, not what I say’, adults leading the way can still have a profound effect on shaping student behaviour, despite the relentless social media presence encouraging, or discouraging, otherwise.
Social thanking platforms can serve as this example, rebuilding basic levels of respect and kindness that may have otherwise been eroded in the march towards steep social change driven by a number of factors over the last couple of decades. By providing a safe space for parents, teachers, and support staff to say ‘Thanks’, ‘I appreciate your effort’, ‘Your help made a difference’, adults can lead by example in school communities and improve mental health outcomes for both the person who showed their appreciation, and the person on the receiving end.
A social thanking platform also has no other role to play. It is not fielding political biases, it is not selling the latest double-basket air fryer, it is certainly not trying to sign you up to a gym membership that will absolutely, without doubt, result in your transformation into Chris Hemsworth’s stunt double.
It is a place purely for thanks. Nothing more, but also nothing less.