Book Review: Do Hard Things

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.