Menu
KIPP promoting character education
To the editor:
As we arrive upon Thanksgiving holiday, it is hard not think about all the things for which we should be thankful. I am fortunate to have a beautiful family, a great job, and to have my health and well-being.
Here at KIPP Delta, we also have much for which we should be grateful. First, our KIPPsters in Blytheville are in a brand new facility which only was achieved with the support of a great many people, from bankers to philanthropists to architects to students, who helped pack and move locations.
Next, we are grateful to serve more students this year than ever before. In Helena, we now serve students in grades Pre-K through 12, allowing us to serve entire families better than we ever have before.
Last, I am so appreciative of the amazing people who come to be a part of KIPP Delta each day. We have a staff who put in incredible hours and effort to ensure students are successful, we have students who are continually rise to the challenge, and we have parents who make unbelievable sacrifices to support their children in the pursuit of college.
Despite all of the things we can celebrate, we know we can improve and have more work to do. In order for our children to be successful in college and beyond, we have seen and learned that character matters just as much if not more than academics. This year, along with other KIPP schools around the country, we are studying the impact of character and what it takes to teach it. Based on the work of Martin Seligman, KIPP has embraced the character traits which are most aligned with a successful life. They are: zest, grit, self-control, optimism, social intelligence, curiosity and gratitude.
We all know the importance of learning to read, solve math problems and conduct science experiments, and we all understand the value of learning to play a sport or instrument. However, rarely do we talk about the power of having grit, that determination to never quit even when things get hard. Rarely do we talk about how curiosity can drive success more than "intelligence." This Thanksgiving break, take the time to teach the power of gratitude or share your gratitude with others. After all, it may be the most important lesson we can teach our children.
To read more about character, I would recommend reading "How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity and the Hidden Power of Character" by Paul Tough.
Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving!