Thoughts on Character

Malcolm Gauld
Characters with Character

Here are 10 reasons with probing questions added to each.

  1. Bullying — Is it common at your school? (If yes, Do Not Pass Go! Go Directly to www.hydediscoveryprocess.org) And even if out-and-out bullying on school grounds is rare, do your students ever harbor fears that they might be bullied? How do you know for sure?
  2. Cyber-Bullying — What is really going on re: how your students interact with each other on-line? Is this interaction as healthy as it could be?
  3. Cliques — Is there a constructive and synergistic rapport across the age range of your students? (And how do you know that you’re not simply seeing what you want to see on this one?)
  4. Sportsmanship — Do your athletes and fans act appropriately both on and off the field? Would your rival schools give your school high marks for sportsmanship?
  5. Academic Engagement — Do your students pay respectful attention, speak up in class, and complete homework promptly and thoroughly? Are those the school-wide norms? (And how do you know that you are not simply calling something “good” that is actually “fair?”)
  6. Right vs. Cool — Do your students think it’s cool to try new and unfamiliar things? Are clubs and teams fully subscribed?
  7. Teachers Stuck In Their Ways — Do your teachers accept that social & emotional learning demands social & emotional teaching? Are they up for learning new “tricks?”
  8. Coping Skills — On a scale of 1 to 10 (w/ “1” being poor and “10” being excellent), how well do your students negotiate stress? Has this gotten better or worse since the Covid pandemic?
  9. Litter & Graffiti — Do students and teachers treat your school facility and grounds with respect? (Simple Test: Do visitors commonly remark on the cleanliness or friendliness of your campus?)
  10. School Pride — Do students and teachers possess the kind of esprit de corps that only comes from feeling that our school is all that it could be? (And, again, how do you know?)


Finally, the Discovery Process rests on a one-sentence core belief: “Every individual is gifted with a unique potential that defines a destiny.” Substitute the word “school” for “individual” to reveal the biggest reason to engage in the Discovery Process. Develop an inspiring culture and your school will connect with its unique potential for the benefit of your students, teachers, families, and community.

Onward, Malcolm Gauld

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