Smart & Good High Schools - The Flippen Group

CHAPTER 5: Fostering the 8 Strengths of Character—Outcome 6Preventing Problems vs. Promotingthe PositiveThe Child Trends Research Brief, Preventing Problems vs.Promoting the Positive: What Do We Want for Our Children?,asks us to consider: What is our primary focus in our familiesand schools? Are we merely trying to prevent problemsin our children, or are we also working to promotetheir healthy development? 13 Child Trends notes that formost parents and educators, helping youth to avoiddrugs, violence, and crime is not enough; they also wantto promote young people’s optimal development by cultivatingthe habits and skills that lead to positive relationshipsand authentic happiness.In spite of our positive aspirations for youth, however, toooften we focus our research, programs, and media attentionon acute problems facing youth, without developinga holistic vision. A holistic vision offers this integratinginsight: Problem behaviors such as premature sexual activity,drug use, tobacco use, and obesity have a common root—theabsence of self-discipline—and a shared antidote, namely, thedevelopment of self-discipline.By emphasizing personal responsibility for self-disciplinewe don’t mean to deny the power of the surrounding cultureto assist, or detract from, the development of self-discipline.A community—be it a classroom, team, club, orsupport group—that embodies a culture of self-disciplinecan have a great impact on an individual person’s developmentand practice of self-discipline. But ultimately, thedevelopment of self-discipline is an “inside job.” A self-disciplinedperson, by definition, is dedicated to the regulationof self, even in the face of contrary external pressuresor a lack of support.Ultimately, the development of selfdisciplineis an “inside job.”Helping our young become self-disciplined persons whopursue a healthy lifestyle also means taking a life-courseperspective as parents and educators. We must resist thetemptation to “handle” adolescent issues such as sex,drugs, and drinking in a way that fails to fully prepareyoung people for the life-course challenges they willinevitably face. Unfortunately, many adults take a “kidswill be kids” approach to adolescence, as if self-indulgenthabits formed by teens have no future effects on theirconscience and habits as adults. Said one father whoexemplified this attitude: “My daughter is 16. When kidsget to be that age, I just assume they’re going to be drinking,doing drugs, and having sex.”When we take a “kids will be kids” approach, however, weget an “adults will be kids” society. We get adults with thehabits they formed as kids, since adolescents’ positive andnegative behaviors tend to carry over into adulthood.” 14Moreover, we delay the development of critically importantadult behaviors—sacrifice, postponing gratification,and moderation in the pursuit of pleasure—needed for aself-disciplined, productive, and fulfilling life.When we take a “kids will be kids”approach to adolescent problems, weget a society of adults who havenot grown up.4 PROMISING PRACTICES FOR DEVELOPINGA SELF-DISCIPLINED PERSON1. Use advisories, wellness programs, and otherschoolwide strategies to promote a balanced, selfdisciplinedlifestyle.2. Approach sex education holistically, as an opportunityto develop good character and a future orientation.3. Implement a community-wide approach to buildingdevelopmental assets.4. Partner with parents to discourage substance abuse.OUTCOME 6:Self-Disciplined PersonPromising Practice 1:Use advisories, wellness programs,and other schoolwide strategies to6 promote a balanced, selfdisciplinedlifestyle.Advisories that provide quality mentoring and positivepeer relations foster the sense of attachment, or connectedness,that every student needs. What is particularly relevantto Outcome 6 is that this connectedness provides asupport system in which students are more likely to developself-discipline and pursue a healthy lifestyle. For example,research finds that students who experience schoolconnectedness are significantly less likely to:◆ engage in substance abuse161Smart & Good High Schools