A Discussion on Integrity

Integrity - it's a concept we've been talking and thinking about a lot lately, especially as it relates to the individuals and schools that we work with week in and week out.


Sometimes, we are impressed and awed by the adults we encounter who just have it - that kind of integrity that is palpable. And, more often than not, when we see this kind of integrity in the adults at any given school or community event, we also see it in the youth at the same event.


Likewise, there are times when we encounter adults who do and say things that make us question their integrity as leaders of young people. And, as it logically follows, often these are the same places where we see youth exhibiting questionable behavior - either first-hand or, often, second-hand through the stories the adults around the youth tell about them.


What's going on here is not that complicated on the surface - many young people model what they see in the adults around them. And if they don't see many visible models (either positive or negative) in their own schools, neighborhoods, and communities, then many rely solely on the messages they receive from pop culture.


Integrity matters. And it challenges us all to ask ourselves some tough questions, including the following:

• What is integrity? How do you define it and what are some characteristics you would use to describe it?
• How do we develop integrity in our own lives as adults? Who are our personal models?
• What examples of integrity can we draw from public figures, both past and present?
• How do we help our youth develop integrity? 
• What is one example of a recent time when you acted with great integrity?
• What is one example of a time when a young person in your world acted with great integrity? How did you respond?

We encourage you to explore these questions with yourselves, your families, and your colleagues. And we'd love to hear your responses. Feel free to leave a comment here or join the conversation on Facebook.