As you might expect, the list prioritizes ‘skills’ over ‘knowledge.’ For us at VCHS, that doesn’t mean knowledge is not important. In fact, the breadth and depth of a liberal arts high school education is more important than ever to develop whole people (mind, body, and spirit) and citizens.
It was, however, a reminder that we still have much work to do in providing our students with the skills that will help them be successful in their careers, and more importantly throughout their lives. For example, look at the top two and think about how we – parents and educators – can help our teenagers grow interpersonal skills and confidence/motivation.
With interpersonal skills, I think it’s critical that we identify the gaps. Is it listening? Engagement? Empathy? What needs to be strengthened? For us in the school setting, we have the perfect opportunity, especially in a smaller context, to exemplify, teach, and practice civil discourse – or as one author put it, intellectual hospitality.
And with confidence and motivation, how are we ‘speaking life’ into our young people? How are we ‘sparking’ their inner motivations? Again, with a school our size, we are uniquely advantaged to customize our approach to help students find their ‘sparks.’
What is most exciting is that we’re able to do this in the context of a Christian faith backdrop with Holy Scripture providing the destination and the roadmap. Consider passages like these:
- The Apostle Paul’s encouragement that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Interpersonal Communication)
- Jesus – I came that [you] may have life and have it abundantly. (Confidence and Motivation)
In the days ahead, the faculty will present our aspirational goals for our students to develop and refine many of the skills mentioned above. It’s called The VCHS Portrait of a Graduate. If you’re reading this as a parent, what’s your ‘Portrait’ for your child?
Steve O'Neil
Head of School
