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Character & Leadership (Beta)

CL8.1.g. Positivity

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Students demonstrate the trait of positivity by choosing to be optimistic, enthusiastic, hopeful, and cheerful. Students sustain their positive outlook based on the following beliefs: 1) Positive attitudes produce positive results — positive people are more likely to achieve their goals, feel successful, have good relationships, have better health, and live longer than those with negative outlooks. 2) Happiness is a state of mind, not a circumstance or fact (i.e., if they think they are happy, they are) and that, as Shakespeare’s Hamlet says, “there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” 3) There are positive aspects (i.e., the silver lining) in all experiences. One can characterize any experience in terms of its positive aspects (e.g., after a fire destroying most of his possessions, a positive person can feel genuinely fortunate and grateful that no one was hurt).

CL7.3.e. Respecting privacy

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Students demonstrate respect by acknowledging and honoring each other’s right to privacy and personal space, including the right to determine whether, how and when information about their personal lives and thoughts will be revealed (e.g., it is disrespectful to read another’s diary, look through another’s backpack, hack their Facebook page, or eavesdrop on their conversations).

CL7.3.f. Respecting others’ autonomy

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Students demonstrate respect by acknowledging and honoring the desire and right of others to govern themselves (i.e., autonomy), make decisions about their lives and be free from oppressive and offensive behavior and unwanted interference in their lives. This includes: 1) Taking the desires, opinions, perspectives, values, and goals of others seriously. 2) Refraining from repetitive arguments, tirades, rants, insults, ridicule, manipulation, or coercion to cause others to change their opinions or actions. 3) Providing others with the information they need to make informed judgments about their own lives rather than concealing the information to advance their own goals or to shield them from potential bad choices. (Example: Suppose an old boyfriend of your best friend gives you a note to give to your friend but you think it would be a terrible idea if your friend started communicating with him again – the principle of autonomy says you should deliver the note.).

CL7.4.a. The basics of fairness

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Students: 1) Take turns. 2) Play by the rules. 3) Give due credit to others. 4) Ask for and take only their fair share. They don’t: 1) Claim credit for the work of others. 2) Recklessly or falsely blame or accuse others. 3) Take advantage of another’s mistakes or ignorance.