The holes in the paddle gives extra speed

Topic: "Intelligence plus character is the true goal of education"

The Northwest Ordinance is one of the great documents not just of American history but also of human history. The document took care of some simple housekeeping, like spelling out how land would be surveyed and the minimum and maximum number of states that could be carved out of this Northwest Territory, etc. But the real story is how it prohibited the institution of slavery from the states to be formed but also how and why it spelled out the need for public education. ***Art. 3. Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.*** To me this is a part of a great enlightenment or understanding of where knowledge and experience intersect to become intelligence. It also helped to create the national character for the citizens of a new nation. Character is something, which needs to be honed through mentor/mentee relationships with trusted caring adults providing leadership. Character is taught from the elders and entrusted to the young people. Many traditional cultures pass their shared mores and values though stories with the next generations. Teachers reinforce our societies rules of behavior in children who have been taught them at home. Teachers also have to be the sole/lone supplier of the same to children of people who are unfamiliar with these same values. Character development is part of the implicit curriculum taught in schools

An explicit curriculum "book of expected knowledge' could be produced and teachers could focus on memorization by the students of all these certain facts. At the end of the mandatory education period all students should be able to recite the knowledge. But knowledge is not intelligence; students need to learn the skills that allow them to take the knowledge they have learned and apply it to new situations presented to them. I say regularly joke that the smartest people in the world are reference librarians, they don't know everything they just know how to find the answers. That statement assumes that when presented with the definition of "Pi" they would be able to apply the knowledge for appropriate outcomes. Questioning assumptions is another example of intelligence. If you assume you know everything that you need to know, you cannot be properly prepared for life's obstacles.

Classroom management is indeed part of character development of students. Classroom rules should not be used as a function for coercion. Rebellion is also part of our national character as it is how we define ourselves and our form of government. We rebelled against a distant king and instituted self-rule. Push students to obey for the sake of submission and you may find your students subverting your authority out of spite. Classroom rules and rules of conduct should be used to encourage appropriate behavior. A primary goal of a teachers classroom discipline program should be to model character development by helping students to become considerate citizens who exhibit self-control and take responsibility for their own actions. Treat others as you would like to be treated is the called the Golden Rule. As a substitute teacher, I will give a disruptive student a privilege such as taking the attendance sheet to the office. But in doing so I take a minute and tell them of the responsibility to be sure the task is done completely and timely. I give the student the opportunity to redeem themselves from past misdeeds and get a positive experience. I treat them with dignity and respect and I then am in possession of a trump card to play, privately, if and when I need it. I am convinced that this type of maneuver allows students to see me as a caring adult. They may therefore consider me trustworthy enough to confide in me when they are going through something personal. Understanding what is going on in a students life may allow me to address a discipline problem in a way that may have a positive outcome when it could go down hill fast otherwise.

Many students from lower income homes and at-risk students in general view kindness as weakness and may try to manipulate your kindness if you are unwilling to actively prevent misbehavior. After all, they are children and children learn from an early age; cry and Mom will pick you up, throw a fit in the store and Mom will buy you a lolly to shut you up, when they don't get their way, they blame others or say things like, " you like sister better than me" or they might tell the parent "I hate you." I related this in a previous Reflection, when children respond to me in a manner as I just described, I say to them, "Unfortunately for you, this never works on Mr. Gates because I am not related to you, therefore I don't love you because I have. I love everyone and want what is best for you whether you want it or not." Students K-12 are children; children need to learn appropriate behaviors so they may make good decisions in life. Good decision-making shows forethought. When students use knowledge, experience and the understanding of consequences of bad outcomes to make a decision they are on the road to maturity. Thinking outcomes through before acting or reacting results in good character and shows development.