Comments on: Ask The Readers: Can Personal Development Be Taught?

By: Martin Welch

Martin Welch — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:46:14 +0000

I think personality development should be taught also. Experience in life is not enough for a person to develop. It’s important that one should learn the basic ways on how develop his/her personality.

By: James

James — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 21:00:37 +0000

That’s an interesting point about parents not teaching this sort of knowledge. Could one assume that if the current generation was taught it, they would be more inclined to pass it onto the next generation when they have kids?

By: Johannah

Johannah — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 03:22:20 +0000

I work in a school and they teach personal development during weekly advisory periods. This year, they’re using The 7 Habits Of Highly Successful Teens as the basis for lessons.

I think it’s a great idea to teach these topics in a formal way such as a school setting. A lot of parents don’t teach these lessons as much as model them – expecting their kids will pick up certain things by example without them being explicitly defined or explained.

Getting them to give a crap at that age… well that’s another story! But at least they’ll have the information, and maybe it will click in the future for those who don’t care right now.

By: James

James — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:10:45 +0000

Wow, you all think it’s a great question!

You all make very good points that are similar to my thinking. Maybe I should ask another question in the near future, asking what topics a personal development lesson could cover. While a lot of self improvement comes from personal experience, theoretical thinking and just generally a lot of positive talk, there are certainly some elements that can be practically implemented. Who wouldn’t benefit from a few lessons looking at how to write a personal mission statement for instance?

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:41:04 +0000

Great question! As much as I think it can be learned I don’t think it can be taught, particularly in a school setting. I think it’s one of those things that you must be ready to learn. Just as my three year old isn’t ready for differential calculus, I think it takes life experience and a certain position in life before it starts to mean something.

That isn’t to say that a firm groundwork can’t be put in place by implanting a desire to improve and a love of learning, but I believe that is the role of parents and not formal schooling. Schools do well (arguably) in teaching facts, not moral systems or the improvement drive.

By: Summy

Summy — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:08:21 +0000

Great question. I think it should be taught even at a low level so there will be some foundation for the future. The question is, how do you do it? Now let’s complicate it more, how should you teach your kids?

By: Mike King

Mike King — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:19:51 +0000

I definitely think it should be taught. I believe there is a BIG gap in today’s education system that forgets about really preparing children for life and its many challenges. Schooling really only focuses on preparing children by building knowledge and some specific skills (reading, writing, maths).

I wish I was taught to learn in different ways. I wish I was taught to really read when I was a kid. So much I’ve learned on my own about personal development I was never prepared to do from my schooling. It’s left to happen by chance for everyone.

If its not school, it’s the role of parents to do so though, and unfortunately most parents don’t study or learn about how to be a great parent, they do this by chance as well.

Great question!