Children Learn What They Live

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 I'm the one who writes my own story

I decide the person I'll be.

What goes in the plot, and what does not

is pretty much up to me.

 

What strengths within me allow me to be responsible?  Responsibility is a unique value which brings contentment to the self and benefit to others.  A truly responsible person is a creator of positive change.   Explore the Reflection Points on Responsibility below in the light of your own experiences.

 

Reflection Points for Young People 

*Responsibility is doing your share.

*Responsibility is accepting what is required and carrying out the task to the best of your ability.

*If we want peace, we have the responsibility to be peaceful.

*If we want a clean world, we have the responsibility to care for nature.

*When one is responsible, there is the contentment of having made a contribution.

*As a responsible person, I have something worthwhile to offer &endash; and so do others.

*A responsible person knows how to be fair, seeing that each gets a share.

*With rights there are responsibilities.

*Responsibility is not only something that obliges us, but is also something that allows us to achieve what we wish.

*Each person can perceive her or his own world and look for the balance of rights and responsibilities.

*Global responsibility requires respect for all human beings.

*Responsibility is using our resources to generate positive change.

Reflection Points for Children Ages 3-7

*As the teacher, what is my job?  What am I responsible for?  ("That's right.  I come to school to teach you.  And I teach you your numbers and letters, and _______.  Yes, and I ______.")

*Can you think of other things teachers are responsible for?  ("Yes, helping children, giving grades, ______.")

*And you are the students.  What are you responsible for?  What is your job as a student?

*How do you feel when you do a good job?

*Say, "It's a good feeling to feel happy and proud of yourself.  Each one of you is capable, lovable, and knows how to be responsible."  

*Responsibility is doing my job. 

*Responsibility is caring.

Some images and information from....... 

Our fifteen-year old daughter, true to her age, her hormones, and her nature, had spent the evening alternating between hot anger, cool sullenness, agitated irritation at other family members, and woeful, sorrowful withdrawal. "I'm going to flunk math because the teacher is so weird. He never explains anything. He grades way too hard. He never calls on me when my hand is up. I don't care anyway, grades are way too important to most people. Actually it's my brothers and sisters who are ruining my grade. They're so loud and noisy, I can't study around here. Forget about an A. A B- is okay. It's not best, but it's good, and no one should be dissatisfied with good. If you'd been around more to help me study, maybe I wouldn't be in this mess." It was a not-so-rare collection of statements illustrating self-criticism and the blaming of others that goes on so often with some adolescents. But it wasn't our daughter's truest self. We had learned that at such moments there was little to do but wait for that truer inner self to emerge.

It finally did, about ten-thirty. "I'm sorry, Mom and Dad. That was stupid. It 's my class and my grade. It's my own fault about the last test. I'll go see if I can make it up. I know I have the ability to get an A." - Linda

One of our daughters is wonderfully persuasive and has school debate trophies as well as an undefeated record in family arguments to show for it! The only problem with this gift is that it lends itself so well to the making of excuses and makes it so very hard to admit fault, accept blame, or apologize.

One day we read a short article by C.S. Lewis on the difference between asking to be excused and asking to be forgiven. She was impressed with the difference and understood that the former involves little real effort and can push people farther apart. The latter creates a warmth that pulls people together.

We decided together that picking out what we have done that is wrong, and taking blame without excuse, is the essence of good human relations as well as the heart of self-reliance. - Richard

"Teaching Your Children values": by Linda and Richard Eyre

 

Clean up your "own back yard" by collecting rubbish and recycling items around the school and home.

Organize a graffiti clean-up party.

Volunteer at a local Community Center helping elementary students with recreation, crafts, and other activities

Sponsor a canned food drive at our school. Take the food to a local soup kitchen and help feed the needy.

Make informational posters encouraging members of your community to recycle. Provide the address and phone number of recycling services available in your area.

Find an open area on your school grounds and plant a tree.

Read your local paper and find a family or individual in need. (i.e. Victims of natural disasters, house fires, robbery, etc.) Provide them with food, clothing or a collection of money from students in your school.

 OCTOBER - RESPONSIBILITY

Responsible

Is what we are.

Trust in us

We will go far.

We won't forget

What we should do,

And we'll use our talents, too.

 

 

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