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Character Building: A Guide for parents and Teachers Character Building: a guide for parents and teachers, David Isaacs, PhD, Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland, Distributed by Scepter Press, USA, Pp. 262. $11.95. Here is a reference book that can be utilized by parents and teachers for children at all ages and throughout the educational process. The forward and the introduction alone are so full of valuable insights succinctly expressed by Isaacs that they alone would make the book well worth having. Isaacs, one of the foremost authorities on education in the world, takes a positive approach from the outset as he confirms the permanent value of the family. He establishes his respect for the dignity of the parents as the primary educators by demonstrating the efficiency of the family in the development and education of their own children. He demonstrates the uniqueness of the unconditional love that is possible only with the family and not within the scope of a society which can only love according to the functional aspects of the human person.
For a mother, a child simply needs to be "my child" in order for that mother to love her child. Whereas, an athlete must function as a good athlete in order to remain on the team. Isaacs then demonstrates how the family is the first school of human virtues and the nature of the unity of the family. In the introduction, the author discusses the training of children in human virtues and makes the valuable distinction about age appropriate education. The education of virtue corresponds to the capacity of the child to learn. There is the consideration of physical, emotional, spiritual and mental development. This brings peace of mind to parents who might frustrate themselves and their children by demanding behavior that is beyond the child's capabilities. At the same time one can see how the virtues interrelate and that each may prepare the child for a virtue that will be learned later. For example a child is only capable of acquiring three virtues before the age of reason, obedience, orderliness and sincerity. However, each of these would play a part in the learning of the virtue of temperance and other virtues which will come at a later time. Reassuring to the parent is the knowledge that the acquisition of the moral virtues disposes a child for the theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity.
The uniqueness of the parents is expressed again in their capacity to take advantage of daily life experiences in order to educate. The parent can intimately know the development of each child and can respond to the child's readiness to learn. In this way they can also respond to the developmental needs of each child. They can take advantage of the small child's eagerness to please, the young child's willingness to do the good, and the adolescence idealism and love for the truth. These general qualities take place in a personal way in each child according to many factors which form the personality. No one can know the child as the parent. This knowledge of the child is one of the major principles for the parents. The other is the knowledge of the good. To this purpose, Isaacs begins each of the 24 chapters of the book with the definition of a different virtue that will be emphasized at different times in the child's life. Having clear knowledge of the nature of the virtue to be taught is essential. This helps the parent to formulate objectives for the child to learn the virtue and this also helps the parents explain the reasons for the virtue. As a child grows in age it is critical for them to find a virtue to be reasonable in order to possess it. Isaacs then adds criteria about each virtue which the parent can consider in light of their own child.
Thus, this is not a "how to" book. Specific solutions are not as valuable as criteria and the knowledge of the child. Parents can readily attest to solutions which worked well with one child but were meaningless with another. He adds other factors such as environment and society. For example, when discussing moderation, he brings to mind dynamics of a consumer society with which parents will have to contend. He also discusses motives, benefits and problems to be encountered while teaching the particular virtues. It is important at the outset to point out that the format of this book does not require a cover to cover reading. In fact, this would lead one possibly to consider the book dry. It is a reference book to be used in relation to each child throughout the years until adult maturity comes from the acquisition of virtues. For Isaacs it is a matter of knowing the child and knowing the good. He encourages the parents to know the child and he provides criteria by which one may know the good. Teaching virtues is not a quick fix but a lifelong commitment which parents are willing to make for the sake of their children. This is a book is a practical tool which will help. If there were only one book that I could recommend, this would be it. |
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Unconditional love cannot be replaced