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Teaching Values The struggle with who to blame for the increase in child violence is a growing concern. Seventy-five percent of Americans point the finger at a breakdown in society and family values. Many kids feel it is “uncool” to believe in anything. “We sort of numb ourselves, we sort of like become mediocre in our beliefs, just to not make waves like that,” said Amy, 16. Experts caution that individual values are best taught at home and in the community. They advise parents to illustrate values and beliefs which are important within their own family. “Every kid watches their parent, they watch them very close, Even when you don’t know they’re looking…they’re looking,” said Denise Williams, mother. Dr. Jim Fowler claimed giving children honest access to beliefs is imperative for parents. “To have that kind of honesty developing as they move into their teen years is one of the finest investments they can make and we can make,” he said. That kind of honesty builds true character, and prepares kids to face struggle, and make good decisions when parents are not around. |
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Enduring Struggle The ability to overcome adversity is the cornerstone of character. Enduring the struggle can actually benefit children if they have honest responsible adults who are willing to help. Accompanied by a parent or responsible adult in which the child truly trust, he or she will likely have the confidence in handling a tough situation. By tackling the struggle, the child will likely feel more self-assured and confident in taking on future struggles and adversities. On the other hand, if a child feels alone or unsuccessful in an attempt to overcome adversity, he or she may turn to less morally acceptable methods. If these tactics are reinforced successfully, the child may opt for the less acceptable behavior in the future. |
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What Parents Should Know At one time self-esteem building seemed to be the key factor for children in keeping values, but recent studies showed that prisons were full of self-confident inmates. Apparently, success in problematic behaviors tends to feed their self-confidence, which can lead to further problematic behavior. Experts contend that self-confidence must be accompanied by a strong moral sense and a feeling of achievement in order to be truly effective. Esteem plus achievement equals self efficacy. It’s the new buzz word for character education in the millennium. Educators say efficacy may be the solution to self esteem gone wrong and the middle ground when struggling with whose values to teach in a diverse society, because achievement is a universal virtue. Polls show that most Americans favor schools teaching common virtues, but are skittish about teaching individual values in the classroom. Many feel that family and community values are better taught by parents, religious leaders and others who share similar beliefs. |
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