They
Can Do Hard Things
Video Conference LEMI 2012
Book Review: Do Hard Things: A Teen Rebellion Against Low
Expectations
by Alex and Brett Harris
16-17 year old homeschoolers
Consider the VikingPhilosophy: Why were they so successful?
Unlike any other raiders who used slavery to sail their ships, they did
their own physical exertion—rowing etc. They were physically superior and that
prepared them in every way for the exertions of the raid. (see the above link for the book colloquium that talks about the viking philosophy.)
How are
we prepared for our future work?
Why Teen
Apathy?
·
Early
classroom structure intimates that success is sedentary,
·
It’s
easy to not do hard things [anything],
·
Lack
of Agency: They have no opportunity to
exercise choice with time, school courses, tight schedules, no free time to
practice personal organization.
·
Youth
find it is comfortable—It’s normal to be apathetic,
·
Video
gaming brain restructuring consequences,
How do we combat it?
J Reuben Clark: Don’t treat them like children; you must
strive every day to have adult expectations of them and aim to achieving those
goals. They are our future leaders—we
must speak to them as leaders.
Training in the Three C’s to do Hard
Things:
·
Competence: We cannot have expectations without teaching
goal setting, follow through and constructive time management and reporting.
·
Character: We cannot expect this to magically
appear. Constructive courses in
deliberate development must help youth craft their own character.
·
Collaboration: All leaders must work closely with parents to
learn about the individual to collectively aid their progress.
How do leadership courses endeavor
to mentor this? Raise the bar higher
than they can reach. TJYC
Why is this important for our
community and for you?
Great Last Point:
Young people can blame some apathy on brain
development. It is not complete, but one
of the positive aspects is that because of that, young people think they are
invincible. If they were not, they would
be unable to believe in [and to succeed at] changing the world.
