Character strengths at GHS
Impact is the termly journal of the Chartered College. It connects research findings to classroom practice, with a focus on the interests and voices of teachers and educators. It supports the teaching community by promoting discussion around evidence within the classroom, and enabling teachers to share and reflect on their own use of research.
In the most recent publication, many of the articles are devoted to character and exploring how schools are developing the character of their students.
Since launching our Character Strengths in September, we wanted to share the conclusion of one of them with you.
Conclusion from CHARACTER – CAUGHT OR TAUGHT?
By LIZ ROBINSON AND JEAN GROSS NOVEMBER 2020
There has never been a time in which young people were more in need of character development. Tristan Harris, former design ethicist at Google and now president of the Center for Humane Technology, considers that we are in the throes of ‘an invisible climate change of culture caused by technology companies that view the world’s 2.7 billion smartphone users as a resource whose attention they can mine for profit. The resulting competition (“attention capitalism”) is making us nastier, stupider and much less likely to find common ground with our fellow humans.’ (Hoyle, 2020)
In the face of this change, we can no longer afford to define character in terms only of grit, persistence and focus, or view it through the single lens of its contribution to higher academic attainment – character in the service of better test and exam results. The children we educate need more from us if they are to make wise decisions in an increasingly challenging context.
As educators, we might perhaps now seek to ‘reclaim’ character, redefining it as nobody’s servant but central in its own right as a key contributor to both our curriculum and a better future for our young people and our communities.
You can read the full article here.
Character feedback
In department meetings this week, we are hoping to get some feedback from you in regards to the GHS Character Strengths.
As always, your support in this whole school initiative is invaluable!
Noble and Andrea
From the Head
