EQ vs IQ
Alyson Engelbrecht • May 25, 2020
Written by Caroline Correia
During this period of online learning, I have realised just how much emphasis we as parents, and the children themselves place on attaining the best results for everything that they do. Whilst there is nothing wrong with achieving the very best that you can and giving 100% of yourself to your academics, there must be a balance between work and play.
For a long time now, there has been an ongoing debate around EQ vs IQ. IQ is a measure of one’s intelligence and is usually determined by a set of standardised tests based on norms for different ages. Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict. Emotional intelligence helps you build stronger relationships, succeed at school and work, and achieve your career and personal goals. It can also help you to connect with your feelings, turn intention into action, and make informed decisions about what matters most to you.
Adapted from Emotional Health - Authors: Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., Melinda Smith, M.A., Lawrence Robinson, and Jennifer Shubin.
As we know, it’s not always the smartest people who are the most successful or the most fulfilled in life. We all know people who are academically brilliant and yet are socially inept and unsuccessful at work or in their personal relationships. Intellectual ability (IQ) isn’t enough on its own to achieve success in life. Yes, your IQ can help you get into college, but it’s your EQ that will help you manage the stress and emotions when facing your final exams. IQ and EQ exist in tandem and are most effective when they build off one another. It is therefore vitally important that we give our children opportunities to build and develop their EQ as well. If a child is unable to empathise and put themselves in someone else’s shoes, then we as parents have failed them.
We need to teach our children how to be mindful of each other and to be aware of one another’s feelings. Teach your child to be the one who sits with the lonely child at break, the one who turns no one away when playing a game, the one who includes the socially inept children in group work and who is tolerant of those with disabilities. Teach your child to be confident and know their strengths and weaknesses, and to be aware of their own emotions in various situations so that they can handle conflict in a responsible manner.
One of the most important things for me as a parent is to teach my children to be kind and to have empathy. Teach your child that kindness begins with them.
Twenty years of trusted education meets expanded opportunities, greater accessibility and future-ready learning from January 2027. Families across Hartbeespoort can look forward to an even stronger independent school offering as Pecanwood College becomes Pinnacle College Pecanwood from January 2027. The transition brings together two decades of local educational excellence with the academic strength, innovation and opportunities offered by the expanding Pinnacle Colleges network. Current and prospective families stand to benefit from a school that retains everything the community values while opening the door to even greater opportunities. Pinnacle College Pecanwood will preserve the school's caring culture, close relationships, boarding facilities, IEB curriculum, sporting tradition and vibrant co-curricular programme, while providing students access to a broader network recognised for academic excellence, future-focused learning and preparation for life beyond school. Pecanwood College has proudly served the Hartbeespoort community for 20 years, offering education from the early years through to Grade 12, including boarding. Dedicated teachers, a nurturing environment, strong IEB academic results and diverse sporting and cultural opportunities have established the school as a respected educational institution in the region. That solid foundation will now be enhanced through the wider Pinnacle Colleges network. Students and teachers will benefit from shared academic expertise, established operational excellence and opportunities to participate in broader academic, cultural and sporting initiatives across multiple campuses. Pinnacle Colleges equips students for tertiary education and successful careers through a balanced approach that combines academic excellence with innovation, career guidance, coding and robotics, technology-enabled learning and holistic personal development. Respect, responsibility and a strong sense of community remain central to every campus experience. Academic success already defines Pecanwood College. The Class of 2025 achieved an impressive 98.59% matric pass rate, a 94.36% Bachelor's Degree pass rate and an average of 1.9 distinctions per student. Pinnacle College Pecanwood will build on these achievements through strengthened academic systems, shared expertise and continued commitment to outstanding IEB education. The name Pinnacle College Pecanwood honours both the school's proud heritage and its exciting future. Twenty years of commitment by students, teachers, families and the wider community remain firmly embedded in the school's identity, while its new name reflects membership of one of South Africa's fastest-growing independent school groups dedicated to innovation, accessibility and student success. Hartbeespoort families can now enjoy the best of both worlds: a close-knit community lifestyle paired with access to a high-quality independent education close to home. Pinnacle College Pecanwood is well positioned to become the school of choice for families seeking exceptional academic opportunities, future-ready skills and an environment where every student can thrive.
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