At Risk

In the news recently there was a very unsettling report about six high school cheerleaders who filmed the beating of another girl.  The beating took place in a private home and lasted thirty minutes.  At one point in the film the victim was knocked unconscious.  This beating was posted on You Tube for the sole purpose of entertainment. The six girls were arrested and could possibly be tried as adults (all are under the age of 16).   None showed any remorse at the time of their arrest instead expressing frustration at missing a cheerleading practice.

As unsettling as the story was a psychologist made an even more disturbing comment.  She suggested that the six teenage girls who did the beating are typical, claiming any teen is capable of crossing this line.  One has to worry if this is true or just speculation.  Our culture has a powerful impact on young people.  The most influential people in their lives are not their parents; it’s their peers, their neighborhood, their school, and the media. The standard is a high stakes quest for popularity and acceptance and the result is a loss of innocence.   It’s in this destructive atmosphere of compete, compare and win at all costs that educators are striving to provide some type of character education, some framework to teach core ethical values.

Character education must be done well and early to put students on the right path, to give them the moral courage to know how and when to walk away from risky and dangerous behaviors.  But not just walk away become the model that others strive to be.  Become better.

Teaching character requires a holistic approach.  You can’t just talk about character you have to model it so that it reflects back and creates the kind of attraction that is impossible to ignore.   Public schools were founded not just to educate but also to create citizens capable of contributing to the common good.  It’s a greater challenge now.    Teachers have a powerful role they can promote this positive development in several ways.

·       Build caring and supportive relationships in the classroom.  The environment should show safety, trust, respect and concern for the welfare of others.  This is the essential foundation

·       Model positive behavior.   Walk the walk just don’t talk the talk.  Students are attuned to their teacher’s behavior and will reflect what they observe.

·       Become a democratic environment where students can make decisions, act on them and reflect on their results.

·       Teach essential social and emotional skills like listening, recognizing and managing emotions, disagreeing respectfully, and resolving conflicts.

·       Involve students in moral discourse.  Discussion about morals is the essence of educating children to be moral individuals.  Teachers can further this understanding with teachable moments, themes in literature and the media to create a dialog.

·       Make learning meaningful and relevant.  Look for ways to show how learning particular subjects is important to helping them achieve their personal goals.

This approach can be part of preventing the occurrence of a wide range of social problems among our youth helping them avoid the pitfalls of life and develop into caring and responsible citizens.