Smart & Good High Schools - The Flippen Group

CHAPTER 5Fostering the 8 Strengths of CharacterThe person who has most profoundly affected my performancecharacter is my basketball coach. During the first weekof practice, Coach B. moved me from a wing player to apower forward—a position physically grueling and emotionallydemanding for someone who is only 5’4”. When Ibecame frustrated in games, I would become upset quicklyand use my height as an excuse.But Coach B. never allowed me to give up. He told medirectly when he expected more from me, and he never forgotto mention when he was proud of me. Before playingfor him, I had never been asked to do something so far outof my comfort zone—never had to persevere in the face ofwhat I saw as impossibility.—A HIGH SCHOOL GIRLWhat gives my life a sense of purpose is the knowledgethat the things I do throughout the day make a differenceand that I am continually growing in new directions. Oneof the greatest challenges you face as an adolescent is toestablish a personal identity and to discover your ownbeliefs when you constantly receive a barrage of opinionsfrom your parents, teachers, and friends. Only this year, inmy third year in high school, have I really been defining myown identity.Part of what has helped me is being involved in extra-curricularactivities in addition to demanding in-school activities.I've had the opportunity to act in ten shows, and eachtime I've learned more about myself and grow as a person.I've also been involved in our school's democratic governancesystem, which has strengthened my moral characterby developing my moral awareness and leadership skills. Isee my future almost as an uncharted adventure, but thegrowth I have experienced in the past three years fills mylife with purpose and the desire to move forward.--A HIGH SCHOOL BOYHow can a Smart & Good High School fosterthe development of the eight strengths ofcharacter that make up performance characterand moral character? As noted in chapter2, we draw these eight strengths, or developmentaloutcomes, from cross-cultural wisdom, classical conceptionsof the good life, social science theory and research,positive psychology's emphasis on assets, and our owngrounded theory research. We identify these eightstrengths as:1. Lifelong learner and critical thinker2. Diligent and capable performer3. Socially and emotionally skilled person4. Ethical thinker5. Respectful and responsible moral agent6. Self-disciplined person who pursues a healthy lifestyle7. Contributing community member and democraticcitizen8. Spiritual person engaged in crafting a life of noblepurpose.Philosophers have long posed the question, “What does itmean to be a complete human being?” Educators havelong agreed that we need to educate “the whole child.”We offer the eight strengths of character as what schoolswill aspire to if they are deeply committed to excellenceand ethics—truly serious about developing the whole personand helping young people become the best personsthey can be. Schooling for these outcomes aims to fosterhuman flourishing over a lifetime.Within every young person is thedesire to lead a flourishing life.We believe that deep within every young person is thedesire to lead a flourishing life. In their book, The AmbitiousGeneration: America’s Teenagers, Motivated But Directionless,authors Barbara Schneider and David Stevensonobserve:Popular media images often portray adolescents as “slackers,”drug users, and perpetrators of violent crime. The overwhelmingmajority of teenagers, however, graduate fromhigh school, do not use hard drugs, are not criminals, anddo not father or have babies while still in their teens. 1The realization that you know verylittle and that life is very short is thebeginning of wisdom.—SIR ISAAC NEWTON84Smart & Good High Schools