It makes sense that education includes the hearts and characters of young students, and to do this in a way that is systematic, and focussed on one good habit at a time.
As someone who spent 17 years in a religiously affiliated Christian school, I very much appreciate that many or most schools now have virtue campaigns. Even public schools now tend to educate students in good habits through a “virtue of the month” or at a minimum, “This week, we’re working on orderliness.” Good habits, or virtues, encouraged in our schools, could include “respect”, "generosity", “kindness”, “gratitude”, “patience”, “courage”, and so many others. Virtue programs are shown to be helpful. Yet there is something that should always be at the root, because it is so much easier to be virtuous when we have joy, and because the goal of virtue and education itself is... JOY!
We tend to think of joy as being something that people are born with to a greater or lesser degree. It seems to be the case that some babies come out of the womb more naturally joyful. This is a simple case to be made that joy is also to some extent chosen, and that it is a very essential “virtue” in education.
Kids and young people - and adults for that matter - bristle when told “you should behave this or that way.” Joy on the other hand is something that we all very much want. Joy cannot be imposed. The emotion of joy is somewhat contingent on circumstances, and there are times when it would be the wrong emotion or value to choose. There are situations in which joy would not be the good response.
Joy is the emotion we feel when we rest in something good: a good family, good fun, good weather, good grades. Joy comes with connection, with feeling at home.
Please contact us at Smart and Healthy Schools for ideas on how to make your school radiate more joy.
Joy is in the will; tempered and well formed.