Comments for Paul Tough: Whatever It Takes

Comment on Character response by Bob Wolf

Bob Wolf — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 02:44:29 +0000

Paul;
The Character Test is “right on” the mark! I’ve been teaching students what I call “4 Skills Every Student Needs” …noted in our website http://www.hopeskills.com and would like to speak with you. Please contact me. Also, you should look into the De La Salle Schools …they are educating young men in a way that prepares them both academically and socially …and, these young men are children of poverty. This is a special school which deserves greater recognition, especially in terms of what your article states about dealing with failure. I’ve created many acronyms that students love and use to remember my message of “active” HOPE ..i.e. – THINK: This Helps Inspire New Knolwedge. Thanks for your time and response, I look forward to hearing from you.

Comment on Character response by Norman S

Norman S — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:36:01 +0000

The message in Ontario public schools is definitely around moral, not performance, character. There also doesn’t really seem to be an effort at teaching the purpose of working on character: instead, it’s mostly vague aphorisms similar to what you mention in your article. The method of learning at the schools still highly pedagogical too – trying to pour knowledge into the kids (as in RSA Animate’s video on Changing Education Paradigms at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U ).

Do you see any relation with the themes in your article (positive psychology, performance character, happiness) to Mark Kingwell’s book on happiness, or on the Strengths “movement” (Clifton / Buckingham, through work at Gallup)?

Thanks for the great article, Paul. I’ve seen mentions about it all over the place.

Comment on Athens Talk by Bonita Hightower

Bonita Hightower — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 08:34:32 +0000

Please forward to me the contact person in Athens. My vision is to do the same thing for Georgia’s Rural South. I am already prepared to go forward with my vision i.e., land acquired and my Nonprofit Organization has been established since 2001. I did not know about Mr. Canada and his work with the Harlem Children’s Zone, but thanks to a colleague, he introduced me to him and his work through the 60 Min interview. I was so blessed to see that he was doing exactly what has been given to me to do here in Georgia’s Rural South. Please contact me as I will be in Athens on next Month to attend a school at the University of Georgia’s Technology Dept. I would love to stop in and meet with whoever is in charge of their promise Neighborhood Program there. Thank you, and looking forward to your response. Sincerely, Bonita Hightower – Pres/CEO INTL Harvest Time Outreach Min., Inc.

Comment on Character reaction by Graham Scharf

Graham Scharf — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 01:55:17 +0000

As a father, educator and entrepreneur, I think that your article deserves the attention it has received – and more.

There is no question that character (both moral and performance) is primary in outstanding parenting, teaching, entrepreneurship, community development and civil service.

William Wilberforce is the archetype of both moral and performance character. For 50 years he fought for the abolition of the slave trade and slavery amidst failing sight and intense pain (he battled ulcerative colitis and suffered from disfiguring curvature of the spine), to say nothing of the opposition of the slave holding establishment. Biographer John Pollock says, “His achievement brought him a personal moral authority with public and Parliament above any living man.”

THOSE are kind of people I want my children to know, admire, and imitate. Thanks for advancing that cause.

Comment on More character reaction by Suzanne Lucas- Evil HR Lady

Suzanne Lucas- Evil HR Lady — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 05:03:07 +0000

Thanks for the link! The article you wrote was fabulous and generated a huge discussion at my BNET article.

Right now so many people are focused on protecting their children that they forget the goal of parenting is to raise adults. And adults need to learn to fail and get over it.

Thanks again for a fabulous and insightful article.

Comment on Times Magazine article on character by Paul Tough

Paul Tough — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:10:21 +0000

Aidan,

Thanks for the suggestion. I enjoyed the video on your site, and I’ll look forward to learning more.

Paul

Comment on Times Magazine article on character by Aidan McAuley

Aidan McAuley — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 05:42:22 +0000

Paul,
I urge you to explore Montessori. Dr. Maria Montessori’s principles allow a child to cultivate this “grit” you speak of. The “success equation” really needs to discuss these Montessori principles if it is to build on what is already known. Montessori children are allowed to fail many times a day and are also allowed the time and freedom to achieve personal success at their individual tasks as well as achieving success in cultivating the community (class room) they are a part of. Please consider my suggestion. Reach out to any of us at MontessoriMadMen.com. You’ll be glad you did!!
Aidan McAuley

Comment on Bill Gates Q&A by Dr. Renato C. Nicolai

Dr. Renato C. Nicolai — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 02:42:14 +0000

NEA is a liberal disgrace when it comes to helping young people learn to their potential. It’s a union interested mainly in continuing to be a union and collecting dues so it can get democratic progressives elected to office. Read my book about what’s wrong with public schools and how to fix them. I solved the problem years ago! I wrote about the four main topics contained in Waiting for Superman in my book: quality teachers,
standards, accountability, and more classroom time. I also practiced the methods to exemplfy using these four items. Go to the web site (drnickweb.com) and read about The Nightmare That Is Public Education. Despite its title, every chapter is filled with positive, practical, doable strategies for helping young people reach their learning potential. The contents of my book are based upon the 38 years of experience I had in public schools.

Comment on Athens talk by Paul Tough

Paul Tough — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:47:06 +0000

Lewis,

I’m looking forward to it! See you in December.

Paul

Comment on Athens talk by Lewis Earnest

Lewis Earnest — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 21:39:07 +0000

Paul – We’re all very excited that you’re coming to Athens! Lots of people talking about it. Can’t wait to meet you.

Lewis