Smart & Good High Schools - The Flippen Group

CHAPTER 5: Fostering the 8 Strengths of Character—Outcome 2events, a rite of passage for all freshmen at the end ofthat first year: a grueling, 5-day, 50-mile hike through NewJersey’s Kittatinny Mountains.“Perseveres in the face of difficulty” is one of the characteristicsof a diligent and capable performer. Perseveranceis the habit of not giving up when you don’t do somethingwell on the first try. It’s also the habit of not givingup when you have to do something you’d rather not do atall. For most of the boys in this school, the 50-mile hikefits that latter category.The project developers explain the rationale for the BackpackingProject:There is no lack of talent or intelligence in the youngsterswho live in the middle of the city. Lack of self-confidence,however, and the inability to work hard when things gettough prevent far too many students of minority backgroundfrom developing their talents and succeeding inschool.“The goal of the Backpacking Project isthat you will long remember completinga hard job you wanted to quit.”The 5-day Backpacking Project for our freshmen students isone remedy that has proven helpful in assisting students toface the challenge of growing up in the middle of one ofAmerica’s poorest cities.A person simply cannot “quit” in the middle of a 50-milecamping trip because he has lost heart or is afraid of failing;or is just sick and tired of dirt, bugs, and his friends; orjust feels that he cannot go any farther. The goal of theBackpacking Project is that each student will long rememberthe experience of successfully completing a hard jobthat he really wanted to quit.This memory may help these young men continue to strugglein math class during the blahs of a high school February,during History class in college when no face seemsfriendly, when applying for a job after being turned downfollowing several attempts, or when they don’t feel qualifiedor appreciated at work and are tempted to stay in bed forthe day.The Backpacking Project is designed to make maximumuse of leadership from older students who have alreadysurvived the challenge.◆ Three weeks of preparation precede the hike, includingone day-long hike and two overnight trips.◆ Each freshman class is divided into 16 teams of 8 memberseach. Each team elects a captain. Four teamsmake up a “company” which is led by three speciallytrained older students.◆ The older student leaders train the freshmen teammembers in the skills they will need on the hike, andall team members practice leadership skills.“At graduation many give credit to thelessons of perseverance learnedduring the Backpacking Project.”Four instructional areas make up the day-to-day activities:1. Team Challenges. Nine team activities, or “initiativegames,” enable teams to practice their ability to worktogether, solve problems, and take care of each other.2. Leadership Training. Company leaders give exercises ina different leadership skill each day. For each team challenge,the teams must evaluate their use of the leadershipskill and are evaluated, in turn, by the company leader.3. Specialty Skills. Sophomore student leaders teach thefreshmen skills in four specialty areas: safety and first aid,camping, nature and navigation, and cooking.4. General Skills. Each day an older student gives an inspirationalor spiritual talk to the whole company.“‘Don’t Quit’ is the motto of the Backpacking Project,”said one of the faculty. “We tell them: ‘If you go 95% ofthe way, that’s not where the bus is going to pick you up.’”At graduation time, seniors always look back on their 50-mile hike with considerable nostalgia. Many give creditfor their accomplishments to the lessons of perseverancethey learned during the Backpacking Project.If you wish to succeed in life, makeperseverance your close friend.—JOSEPH ADDISONFor a resource designed to help teens, especially lowachievers, answer the question, “Why try in life?”, seewww.whytry.org. For a resource that links character education,technology and student learning, see www.MindOH.com.115Smart & Good High Schools