Formal Instruction in Character

Prep School Admissions Prep School Parents
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<p>Can anyone tell me if there is a school with formal instruction on non-college preparatory topics related to character building. For example a course on leadership or values related to courage and benefits of altruism? Or is the character building all through non-formal interaction and discussions on slogans like "Non Sibi"? Of course, it is extremely difficult to teach these things in a non-experiential manner and it may seem odd to have a class like this; however, while I never encountered these types of classes in high school or college, they certainly exist at graduate/professional school level, where courses on leadership and ethics are mandatory components of the degree program. Shouldn't these courses be introduced at the HS level and wouldn't boarding schools be the best place for this?</p>

<p>Anyone know of something like this type of education? Team building? </p>

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<p>It is your job to teach your children about character building and ethics. I don’t think you can out-source it to boarding schools.</p>

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<p>Yes, a lot of it is through words and slogans, such as all the Latin mottos, but most schools make a concerted effort to put these into practical terms and measurably implement them, both through formal programs and extracurricular opportunities. Many schools see this as fundamental to their mission of producing effective, ethical leaders. (As for rhapsody17’s point, yes it is our job as parents to do this, but certainly part of doing that job is finding a school that will appropriately support us in this goal. As for ethics specifically, this is very clearly part almost every schools’ mission.) </p>

<p>Other than Blair’s, not many come readily to mind, although I remember learning about a number of such things. These may not be exactly what you are talking about, but are close.</p>

<p>Blair’s main initiative is briefly discussed here: <a href=“http://www.blair.edu/news/item/index.aspx?LinkId=6533&ModuleId=30,37,57,74”>http://www.blair.edu/news/item/index.aspx?LinkId=6533&ModuleId=30,37,57,74&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I also remember being impressed with some special, specific programs Middlesex has. I forget the details, but I think it was more focused on mindfulness rather than leadership per se, but all are intertwined on some level.</p>

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<p>Thank you @BlairParent. I will look into Blair and Middlesex some more. When I look at some of the course catalogs for some of the schools, I see some courses in philosophy which I think get to some of the concepts that I am referring to. When I was at school, I didn’t find any good courses on how to be a parent, so, naturally, I need to send my kids to a school that does this for me. </p>

<p>In all seriousness, I think that a good parent would look to a school that reinforces core values taught at home. Let’s face it, many teenagers look to their peers and respected teachers for guidance on some important matters instead of parents. There is an element of healthy contrarianism in kids aged 14-18 that can sometimes interfere with parental teachings. Paraphrased from Mark Twain - “It’s amazing how much the old man learned in the time I was away from home.”</p>

<p>I want to consider schools that have an element of character building or at least a discussion on it as a component of their education rather than a school that is basically an early entry into college. </p>

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<p>Perhaps it would be easier for ask for examples of schools that DON’T emphasize character building. I can think of none.</p>

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<p>^^ I agree. I think most BS do put a lot of emphasis on character building. Look at mission statements, check out school assemblies, ethics classes as requirements, listen to headmaster talks. They may not have formal classes on leadership, but they certainly focus on character building in many different ways.</p>

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<p>There can be a distinction between leadership training and building character. If character is defined as being other-centered and upstanding, some consider those values passe. One school might be big on crafting dominant powerbrokers while another might be more about developing selfless character first and servant-leadership second. These aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive but often are in opposition.</p>

<p>Sometimes the values pervade the ethos of the school & campus regardless of whether courses are officially offered.
Look where the emphasis is and compare that to what you seek.</p>

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<p>I have to wonder how effective such classes would be. The concept makes me think of the old line, “Do as I say, not as I do.” One of the benefits of boarding school is that our children live among many adults of good character (yes, I expect there are a few lemons among them, but still…). That’s an improvement on their own two parents, right at the time of life when the parental character has become something of a disappointment.</p>

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<p>Boarding schools are known to emphasize character building, but not necessarily through classwork. </p>

<p>One could regard athletic competitions as a central part of character building. I’ve heard multiple times of examples of good character shown on the playing field, such as passing up a chance to win a competition to help a struggling competitor. I think most schools will have such stories.</p>

<p>There’s also the importance placed upon character in disciplinary decisions. A student could well get into much greater trouble for lying about misbehavior than for the bad behavior itself. The schools I know take academic honesty very seriously; students can be expelled for cheating.</p>

<p>As part of a formal program, schools invite speakers to campus to talk of their life experiences. That’s often an event students are required to attend.</p>

<p>As to the values schools want to impart, I would seek out the materials they publish for alumni and parents. For the values they do impart, I suppose the best source would be the parents of recent graduates. </p>

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<p>My child goes to The Putney School, which has that character building and leadership built into everyday jobs and tasks. Students are asked to manage the school in all aspects, from cleaning, cooking, land/farm management, as well as school admissions and standards. There are even 2 students asked each year to serve on the board of trustees. So while this isn’t a class that is taken for a single credit, it is embedded in the day to day. This speaks more to your initial comment about experiential learning rather than lecture and research. I like to think Putney realized it has to be ongoing to succeed for teenagers. </p>

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<p>There are boarding schools that consider being other-centered and upstanding passe? And BS that craft powerbrokers? Do tell.</p>

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<p>These are great questions. I chose to look to boarding schools precisely for the character-building and life-work balance. I believe kids coming out of a BS will be trained in character and life/work balance. It is this, more than the college preparation, that I looked for in the boarding school.</p>

<p>I have looked for Leadership training, and did find one program (I think it is by “People to People”), but it was expensive and I do not know how well it is implemented. So I am kind of at a loss. Most leaders I have observed come from being an older sibling in big families or from team sports.</p>

<p>What I would like my kids to learn is that the typical group dynamic is for everyone to take one step back (which slows progress); and that you don’t have to be the ‘best’ to be the leader, you just have to be considerate, watch out for everyone, have excess capacity/supplies/awareness, and commit to stepping into the void and consistently making good decisions. Often, any of several people in a group could fill this role, and the role could rotate (like the front goose in the ‘V’ flying south for the winter). I want my children to recognize that most groups are looking for a leader. How do you assess your own fitness, prepare yourself to be effective, and have the courage to step into the role to deliver the energy and momentum the group needs? How do you set an agenda? How do you deal with group dynamics? How do you support another in this leadership role?</p>

<p>I have seen my kids, and probably your kids if you are here on CC, have the potential to be a leader in many settings. I believe they would benefit from being taught explicitly how to do this, in a peer group. How do you take on the role of leader, step into the center of the circle, and be effective to the end, not letting your group down, but marshaling the group dynamic towards a common goal?</p>

<p>This is learned by most people organically, slowly, and on-the-job. I would like to see it broken down, explained, role-played, etc. Teams benefit when members see leadership as a role (not a ‘better-than’ award per-se), and recognize how to properly step into and out of that role. I believe the military, especially elite forces, do a great job at explicitly teaching this, so it can be taught.</p>

<p>I would love to find such a course for my kids.</p>

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<p>It’s called “Boy Scouts” in our neck of the woods. (I’m sure Girl Scouts provides the same community building and leadership skills.)</p>

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<p>Miss Porter’s School has a required course in Ethical Leadership:</p>

<p>Ethical Leadership Requirement: Students who enter Miss Porter’s School in 9th or 10th grade: Ethical Leadership Seminar in 10th grade.
Ethical Leadership Seminar</p>

<h1>980 Semester course – ½ unit. Offered fall and spring. Required for 10th graders.</h1>

<p>In this course, students will explore the qualities of effective leadership as they face new dilemmas in the rapidly changing world today. They will study various theories on leadership styles and the ethical systems attached to them. Subsequently, students will examine ethical leadership from four perspectives – personal, home, community, and world – broadening their scope with each new position. Using personal stories, case studies, media, and global issues, students will learn how to be effective leaders as they analyze ethical situations and put their new knowledge into practice. With this foundation, they will build a set of tools for ethical leadership to help them identify and negotiate situations that arise in their lives.</p>

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<p>… In additional to all the other typical character building /leadership building experiences etc. typically offered /developed by boarding school. </p>

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<p>I’m sorry, ChoatieMom. People will have to figure that out for themselves.</p>

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<p>I felt that instruction in character & leadership was offered at almost every school we visited, including Cate. Usually, as part of a “Freshman/Sophmore Seminar” type of class. Other than Cate, St. Andrews and Thacher come to mind, but I really think that this is an important focus at most boarding schools.</p>

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<p>All the things you seek ( courage, values, kindness, leadership and character building ) are already rolled into the experience. A course for any of these things would be unnecessary. It’s all there ( day in, day out ). </p>

<p>I would venture to say that for most students it’s unavoidable … and maybe that’s the beauty of BS right there. </p>

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<p>^ Spot on. In addition to the day in, day out experience as noted by @PhotographerMom‌, EHS requires students to participate in a four year Leadership and Ethics Program which supports the final words of the school’s mission statement, “Episcopal strives to prepare young people to become discerning individuals with the intellectual and moral courage to lead principled lives of leadership and service to others.” </p>

<p>EHS Leadership and Ethics Program
<a href=“http://www.episcopalhighschool.org/student_life/leadership_ethics/index.aspx”>http://www.episcopalhighschool.org/student_life/leadership_ethics/index.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;