I think there is a danger of presenting the choice as binary, either we have character development or political education when in fact society needs both to develop,.
Also whilst I have been a member one of the oldest Character development organisations has never instilled gratitude or humility as its core values which are based around;
been trusted
loyality
consideration
internationalism
courage
self respect and respect for others
and care for possessions and property
Qualities I would argue would increase an activists effectiveness rather than inhibit it.
Whether we like it or not 93% of young people are in an unfair competition for control of the communities resources with 7% of their peers who have benefited from a highly effective regime of confidence building and self presentation often enabling them to be selected on the basis of their confidence rather than their competence.
Tony – loads to think about as a result of your response. I wonder if you might be interested in being involved in some sort of seminar on character education. Not sure if you looked at my rant about measuring personal and social development, which contains the following:
My comment on neutrality takes me to a final point regarding the idea of character itself. The pioneers of youth work, the likes of George Williams, Lily Montagu and Baden-Powell, , would warm to its re-emergence, confident in their concern to nurture young men and women of good Christian or Jewish character. Explicitly they engaged without embarrassment with two inextricably interrelated questions, which, if we are similarly honest, we cannot escape:
In what sort of society do we wish to live? What are its characteristics?
And, depending on our answer, what sort of characters, do we think, are best suited to either the maintenance of what is or the creation of something yet to be?
Bit busy this term could probably fit in a seminar during Winter term depending on how my results are. Not sure what I have to offer but happy to help.
IN DEFENCE OF YOUTH WORK 
I think there is a danger of presenting the choice as binary, either we have character development or political education when in fact society needs both to develop,.
Also whilst I have been a member one of the oldest Character development organisations has never instilled gratitude or humility as its core values which are based around;
been trusted
loyality
consideration
internationalism
courage
self respect and respect for others
and care for possessions and property
Qualities I would argue would increase an activists effectiveness rather than inhibit it.
Whether we like it or not 93% of young people are in an unfair competition for control of the communities resources with 7% of their peers who have benefited from a highly effective regime of confidence building and self presentation often enabling them to be selected on the basis of their confidence rather than their competence.
Tony – loads to think about as a result of your response. I wonder if you might be interested in being involved in some sort of seminar on character education. Not sure if you looked at my rant about measuring personal and social development, which contains the following:
My comment on neutrality takes me to a final point regarding the idea of character itself. The pioneers of youth work, the likes of George Williams, Lily Montagu and Baden-Powell, , would warm to its re-emergence, confident in their concern to nurture young men and women of good Christian or Jewish character. Explicitly they engaged without embarrassment with two inextricably interrelated questions, which, if we are similarly honest, we cannot escape:
In what sort of society do we wish to live? What are its characteristics?
And, depending on our answer, what sort of characters, do we think, are best suited to either the maintenance of what is or the creation of something yet to be?
See http://www.youthandpolicy.org/articles/treasuring-not-measuring/
Best Wishes
Hi Tony
Bit busy this term could probably fit in a seminar during Winter term depending on how my results are. Not sure what I have to offer but happy to help.