CHARACTER EDUCATION -- CARING
Caring:
- Compassion
- Kindness
- Considerate
- Charitable
Eros = physical love
Phileos = brotherly love
Agape = Unconditional love
Caring takes TIME & ACTION
Teach children to love their parents.
Separate the person from the behavior or choices the person has made.
Draw a picture of caring.
Characterizing "Caring"
Sometimes people move through life without paying attention to how much they hurt others or how little they care about how those around them are feeling. It isn't that the signs are not there, it may be that we are just not being sensitive enough or don't pay close enough attention to what is going on around us.
We are surrounded by information and data on a daily basis, but most of it escapes our attention. But when one wishes to gain new insight, usually the capability is there, if we are just willing to be still and reflect.
When feelings are hurt or a crisis between two people erupts, we usually take a few moments to try to figure out the problem. Knowledge begins with attending to the facts.
Facts, however, do not change behavior. This is the flaw of many educational environments. Facts alone, are not usually significant enough stimuli for changing behavior. It is only when one attends to facts, deeply reflects on facts, and makes a personal connected application to those facts, that behavior begins to change.
The first step in becoming a caring person is to attend to and reflect on ways to behave in a caring manner.
Step 1. Attending or Reflecting:
Step 2. Valuing & Cherishing:
When one behaves in a caring manner and these actions result in a pleasant and rewarding outcome, one will begin to value this behavior as having merit. Children need to have many opportunities to demonstrate caring characteristics which result in personal satisfaction. When children are groomed to care, caring will become apart of their system of values. They will love to care.
Step 3. Prioritizing & Delegating: As one grows in the attributes of caring (or any other characteristic), more and more time is voluntarily delegated to it. If benevolence becomes a priority, then people will find each and every opportunity to practice it. More and more of one's waking hours are spent demonstrating this quality.
Step 4: Organized System: The way one organizes his or her life will develop around characteristics that one has attended to, valued, and developed. More than just random acts, these characteristics become integrated into the fabric of ones schedule, business, relaxation activities, and family life. Everyone who knows you, realizes that these values and characteristics are a part of everything that you do.
When one becomes so characterized by a trait, that others think of your name when they think of the trait, (caring, fair, good citizen, respectful, benevolent, trustworthy, etc.) one is said to have embodied, or personified that trait.
Step 5: Characterization & Personification: When a person becomes the living example of a value, trait, or characteristic.
Give examples of Moral Dilemmas using "Caring".
Self Quiz
How would you rate yourself?
1. Demonstrating to family & friends that you care. Yes No
2. Demonstrating to colleagues and parents that you care. Yes No
3. Demonstrating to young people you work with that you care. Yes No
4. Being kind and considerate. Yes No
5. Empathizing with colleagues and parents. Yes No
6. Empathizing with administrators and supervisors. Yes No
7. Empathizing with subordinates or volunteers. Yes No
8. Being charitable and generous with your time. Yes No
9. Being charitable and generous with your money. Yes No
