For Goodness' Sake: Supporting Children & Teens in Discovering Life's Highest Values

by Michael Nitai Deranja

Conclusion

Cheerfulness, Forgiveness, Courage, Even-mindedness, Concentration, Patience, Integrity, Sensitivity, Trust, Cooperation, Sincerity, Will Power, Peace, Compassion, Self-Control, Enthusiasm, Honesty, Love, Joy — the words fairly shine on the printed page. These are the jewels of human existence. What greater gift can we offer our children than the opportunity to discover and cultivate these qualities?

As our world grows closer together, we can more easily realize that these qualities are a part of everyone’s heritage, no matter what our religious or cultural background. As such they offer us a basis for emphasizing the oneness of the human race. On an individual level, these qualities contribute mightily to each person’s sense of self-worth and fulfillment.

As parents and teachers, we have the opportunity to facilitate our children’s growth through sharing activities like the ones described in this book. Children who go through such a program will learn to integrate values into their lives, not out of fear of an authority figure or the desire to impress others, but because they have seen through direct, personal experience that values improve the quality of their lives. In this way they become prepared for the ongoing process of refining their understanding and deepening their appreciation of values through the countless lessons that life will place before them.

In closing, I'd like to share what I consider one of the highest compliments someone could offer a program of this kind. It came from an administrator from another school who had worked with several of our students. She told one of the mothers, "I'd like to come and visit your school. I'm impressed with your students. They're different. They know who they are."