Vulnerability Points for Character Education

About 2 weeks ago, we worked with 160 student leaders, aged between 13-15 years, from a Singapore Secondary School in their annual networking camp over four days. The participants were representatives from every leadership body in the school and the camp served as the culmination event in a series of leadership education programmes which Trailblazer Trainers had been conducting since March 2006.

The campsite was nestled in the foothills of the Panti range in Johore, about 2 hours' drive from urban Singapore. Just about 5 minutes from reaching our destination on our outbound journey, one of the participants remarked to another that there were no power lines nor street lamps. As I chuckled to myself, I realised that it was the perfect setting for character education to take place.

For urban, techno-savvy youth such as these participants, living in the jungle provided various opportunities for them to focus on the state of their character. The simple reason - placing individuals in situations where they are deliberately put 'off-balance' and in a state of relative discomfort and unfamiliarity, creates what Laurie Beth Jones calls 'Vulnerability Points' in her book 'Teach Your Team to Fish'. (A good book, I must add) These would be windows of opportunity for mentors, coaches, teachers and other adult stakeholders to literally speak into their lives; perfect for character education.

One such Vulnerability Point was created on the first evening itself, when participants were challenged to commit to higher performance standards. Caught in the transition between everyday grind and a unfamiliar new environment, participants' basic leadership disciplines became the focus of admonition, as they were not maintained. The lack of punctuality and a collective failure by the participants to organise themselves; insofar as these elements were indicators of a commitment to a successful collective experience, provided that vulnerability point.

It was not surprising therefore that the character education lesson facilitated that very first evening was the need for leaders to be committed to basic disciplines, to key tasks and of course, to each other. Personally, I was impressed with how forthcoming participants were with their thoughts about the situation and their positive reactions which led to improved behaviours that were maintained right till we said goodbye.

Character education is more likely to take place during 'Vulnerability Points'. Think about how much advice we ourselves accepted when we were comfortable and confident in our situation. Situations where individuals are 'off-balance' and need assistance are precisely when educators, coaches and mentors come into their own. We need to be mindful of situations which present themselves as these points because our advice and guidance, even a whisper, can be a precise clarion call into the lives of our charges and proteges.

Noel Tan

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