Bill’s Weekly Reflection: Are we doing enough Character Development?
Jessa Forthofer, one of our Cole 6th grade English teachers, sent me an NPR piece this week. It is an interview with Paul Tough, New York Times Magazine writer, who has written a new book entitled How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity and the Hidden Power of Character. Tough has written many books and pieces about education over the last five years. Check it out if you have time.
http://www.npr.org/2012/09/04/160258240/children-succeed-with-character-not-test-scores
Character Development has been core to the DSST program from the beginning. The centrality of our core values speaks to developing character, as does our commitment to center our culture, our teaching and our advisory program around these values every day. Paul Tough does not say that academic preparation is unimportant. Rather, he says that character development is equally important and vastly undervalued in our schools today. I could not agree more. Developing our students to overcome challenges, to work hard when things are difficult and to develop integrity, responsibility and courage are key attributes to living a fulfilling and productive life. I think we all know that. Are we doing enough Character Development in our schools today? Listen to the piece and let me know what you think.
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