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The KEYS to the Future

MAY 2009

Volume 1, Number 12

Asset #28 – INTEGRITY - Young person acts on convictions and stands up for her or his beliefs.    

 

 

 

Three ways to help your child build integrity: 

 

1.Learn to talk to your child about difficult issues such as domestic violence, oppression, and

prejudice. Help your child understand how these issues relate to her or his integrity.

 

2.Celebrate when your child acts on

a belief or conviction when it was obviously difficult to do. Standing up for a belief may convince

other’s to believe in it, too.

 

3.Share with your child the times

when you feel tempted to ignore your values and beliefs.

 

 

 

 

 

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To learn more about Search Institute’s asset categories or the 40 Developmental Assets and ideas for helping young people build them visit  www.search-institute.org/assets

 

Developmental Assets® are positive factors within young people, families, communities, schools, and other settings that research has found to be important in promoting the healthy development of young people. From Instant Assets: 52 Short and Simple E-Mails for Sharing the Asset Message. Copyright © 2007 by Search Institute®, 877-240-7251; www.search-institute.org. This message may be reproduced for educational, noncommercial uses only (with this copyright line). All rights reserved.

 

 

 

For more information on the Teen Parent Program at Kishwaukee College, contact Julie Male at 815-825-2086, ext. 312; for more information on the Kishwaukee College WIA program, contact program Coordinator Mary Ann Kolls at ext. 519.

 

Asset 28: Integrity - It’s important for young people to honor their beliefs

It’s one thing to have beliefs and values. It’s quite another to stand up for them, especially when you feel like you’re sticking your neck out alone. Anytime young people draw on their inner spark of courage and act based on their values, they have integrity. History is packed with stories of honorable people with integrity. The best way to teach integrity to young people may be to practice and model it yourself. Think of the things you do every day: recycle an empty can if you care about the environment; point out something positive about a person who others are making fun of.

Integrity is Asset 28 of Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets, the qualities, experiences, and relationships that help young people grow up healthy, caring, and responsible.

 

Here are the facts

Research shows that young people who have integrity feel good about themselves, make thoughtful decisions, and lead others through their positive influence. About 68 percent of young people, ages 11–18, report that they act on their convictions and stand up for their beliefs, according to Search Institute surveys. Help young people gain confidence to act in ways that reflect their values and beliefs, even when it’s difficult.

 

Tips for building this asset

 

Be a role model for the young people in your life: Think about what you believe in and value. Is it being a good friend? Helping vulnerable people? Honesty? Education? Health? Ask yourself whether your daily actions show you are true to yourself and your values. Confidence, trust, and respect are a direct result of integrity, and there are many ways adults can help young people foster these characteristics.

 

Also try this

 

In your home and family: Talk with your child about a belief or value you admire and respect in him or her. Brainstorm ways to provide support and positive feedback when your child acts with integrity.

 

In your neighborhood and community: If you notice a young person who is being teased for not doing something considered “cool,” because it goes against his or her values, praise the young person for his or her integrity.

 

In your school or youth program: Ask students or participants to tell about a time when they acted with integrity, even though it was difficult. Congratulate each person.

 

 

Local statistics

 

According to the Search Institute, the national average of young people 11-18 years of age who say they regularly act on convictions and stand up for his/her beliefs is 68%. Our local teens are slightly above average when it comes to integrity.  Sixty-nine percent of DeKalb and Sycamore teens reported regularly taking a stand about personal beliefs.    

 

Please remember: Assets have the power to protect our young people from engaging in risk-taking behaviors such as alcohol use, shoplifting, vandalism, trouble with the police, engaging in violent behavior, and more. Get involved with your children’s lives! 

 

Assets in Action - Group of DeKalb High School students publicly demonstrate caring, integrity, and responsibility.

 

“Kids know, better than grownups, what we do is more important than what we say.” —Pete Seeger

 

In late February 2009, the DeKalb School District invited community members to attend and participate in a brainstorming session.  Community members were asked to define what graduates of the new DeKalb High School will need to ultimately compete in the global marketplace and succeed in the 21st century.   

 

In the invitation to the event, community members were told; “Existing expectations for high school and college graduates may not adequately prepare them for the realities of global competition or other changes in our environment.  While the new DHS physical plant is under construction, we can plan a 21st century educational program appropriate for those who will determine DeKalb’s economic, social, and cultural future”. 

 

During the brainstorming session, one group of community members suggested that students be prepared to apply critical thinking, have strong problem solving skills, demonstrate cultural competency, be literate, aware of global issues, and have the ability to effectively communicate.  The members of this group all agreed that it is critical for students to have positive values and be committed to learning. 

 

On Monday, May 4th, it was evident that a group of students from DeKalb High School is already one step ahead of the plan for the proposed “21st century educational program.”  During a school board meeting that evening several current and former students of the DeKalb School District fine arts programs demonstrated impeccable integrity and character.

 

Due to the current state of the economy, public school districts across the United States are being presented with significant financial challenges.   Like so many other service organizations, school districts are being forced to trim their budgets to accommodate decreasing or stagnant revenue funds.  The business of the May 4th school board meeting included a proposal to eliminate or reduce a portion of the funds for various fine arts positions in the district.    

 

During the school board meeting on the evening of May 4th, wearing name tags that read “music”, students and parents filled the board room to support the fine arts programs and express their objections to budget cuts that could potentially negatively impact such programs. 

 

In one amazing display after another, students spoke passionately about their belief in the need for and value of music and theater.  One of the last students to address the board asked, “What can we do to help keep these programs in our schools?”  Members of the school board answered by saying, “exactly what you are doing now.” 

Shortly thereafter, the school board voted to keep a portion of the funds dedicated to various fine arts positions in the 2009-10 budget.

 

From an asset perspective, this group of young people did so much more than just articulate how they have personally benefited from music and/or theater.  Their words went beyond merely expressing their hopes that future DeKalb Middle and High School students can be afforded the same opportunities.  Collectively, this group did something much more powerful with their words and actions; they confirmed the power of the 40 developmental assets.  Whether they know it or not, they demonstrated what Search Institute’s president, Peter Benson, calls the “power of one” – the potential for one individual to help, to heal, to support, to challenge, and to change, for the better, the life of a young person. 

 

This particular group of young people that are engaged in creative activities and youth programs (assets #17 and #18), under the supervision of positive, non-parent adult role models (assets #3 and #14) are clearly headed in the right direction to be able to compete in the global marketplace and succeed in the 21st century. 

 

They appear to be well equipped with the internal values, skills and beliefs that young people need to fully engage with and function in the world around them.  Each individual that spoke publicly at this meeting demonstrated that they are motivated to do well (asset #21) and are actively engaged in learning (asset #22).  They proved that they’re caring (asset #26), responsible (asset #30) and have integrity (asset #28).  Utilizing an assertive approach and through carefully chosen words (assets #32 and 36), they voluntarily took a stand for equality and social justice (asset #27) for future students.  Last but not least, this group of young people showed their commitment to having control over the things that happen to them (asset #37). 

 

Congratulations to this fine group of “asset-rich” young people in the Dekalb School District!    

 

 

Share your Asset stories with us!

If you have seen or been a part of a story that shows Assets in use, please email us so we can share your story with our readers. Reach us at info@dekalbcountykeys.org.