Valentine’s Day celebrations in schools promote kindness and social-emotional learning. They include all students in a structured environment. The tradition fosters students’ empathy, friendship, and communication skills. Today, character development and community are important in a student’s education.
Valentine’s Day History
Valentine’s Day is celebrated every February 14 and is associated with love. Its origin comes from Christian and Roman traditions. Its name comes from a man named Valentine. There are many stories about how the holiday came about. Many believed Valentine was a Roman priest who helped couples get secretly married.
“In the years 268 A.D. to 270. A.D., Emperor Claudius of Rome banned marriage because he felt unmarried men made better soldiers,” according to Kids National Geographic. Thus, believing the rule was unfair, Valentine performed secret marriages. He was eventually caught and killed on February 14. Before his life ended, he wrote a love letter to his jailer’s daughter, whom he loved.
Today, candy, flowers, and heart-shaped notes are sent to friends, loved ones, and people they care about.
Today’s School Celebrations
Classrooms celebrate Valentine’s Day to build social-emotional learning (SEL). It is part of student development that supports a student’s academic performance and behavior. In supporting social development, academics are also supported. Activities that support the celebration build positive emotions and the recognition of others’ feelings. Therefore, students build healthy relationships with peers.
Many celebrations include activities such as:
- store-bought cards,
- practicing writing skills as a kind message to peers,
- making decorations for the classroom,
- discussions about respect and friendship,
- parties and snacks.
Classroom activities develop soft skills that enable students to think beyond themselves. They demonstrate gratitude and empathy. Most classroom teachers have a policy of including every student. Activities also include teamwork and shared goals. The activities are developed to be a low-pressure interaction with peers. In classrooms where students have a variety of cultural and religious backgrounds, teachers focus on friendship and community.
What It is and What it’s Not
Schools do not celebrate Valentine’s Day to support the sale of commercial greeting cards. The tradition started before greeting card companies capitalized on the idea. Some believe Valentine’s Day is only for the younger grades. In reality, older grades benefit from socialization and in-person interactions. It provides teachers with an opportunity to discuss empathy, consent, and emotional literacy in a structured setting. Valentine’s Day helps all students to feel seen, gives them a voice, and connects them.
