What are values that you think teens should learn?

Question

...especially during the middle school age (12-14 years old)?

Answer 1

Accepting responsibility for one's own actions is, to me, the most important human value anyone can learn. Teaching this value to today's teenagers is the biggest challenge of educators and parents.

A teacher assigns homework: Accept the responsibility of doing that homework. A teacher assigns a class project: Accept the responsibility of doing that project.

Parents ask for help setting the table, putting the dishes in the dishwasher, keeping rooms clean, watering the pets. Twelve or fourteen-year olds are capable of being taught the value of "responsibility".

A society not capable of teaching this value, deserves the children it produces.

Answer 2

As a parent (not of a teenages just yet) and teacher of the age you asked about, one value that (pre-) teens need to learn and learn early is RESPONSIBLITIY. I cannot tell you how many times I've had my students say to me that they didn't not complete their homework because their "mom" didn't understand how to do it. My response is always, "Well it's a good thing it wasn't your mom's homework."

Responsiblity and the consequences for not having is one of the basic values that will help students be successful.

The other I want to add is similar to Corey above, but I always put a little bit of a different spin on it. When looking at Tolerance..the root word there is "tolerate" and I believe that kids should do more than "tolerate" one another, the word that I prefer to use is "Acceptance."

Answer 3

This is what I'm working on currently with my daughter (just turned 15) - of course others are more important... but now these are the things that are relevant for her age and time in life:

* The difference between real friends and aquintances
* Money and credit
* Self Respect/self esteem
* The importance of education
* Working, volunteering, giving back to the community or family
* Being honest and communicating feelings respectfully and honestly (even when the feelings are negative)


That's what we're working on.

Answer 4

their values should have been taught at home...and re-enforced by the teacher..it's a little late in life to start learning them at 12-14...their personality is already pretty well set...good luck

Answer 5

Tolerance
Respect to self and others
Healthy choices of mind, body and spirit
Work ethics.
Responsibility
Accountability

Answer 6

in this age, any good value is important

Answer 7

After my experience as a parent, I would be happy if they just did not forget the ones they already know.

Answer 8

Here is a short list:

CITIZENSHIP

Democracy: government of, by and for the people, exercised through the voting process
Respect for and acceptance of authority: the need for and primacy of authority, including the law, in given circumstances
Equality: the right and opportunity to develop one's potential as a human being
Freedom of conscience and expression: the right to hold beliefs, whether religious, ethical or political, and to express one's views Justice: equal and impartial treatment under the law
Liberty: freedom from oppression, tyranny or the domination of government
Tolerance: the allowable deviation from a standard. Indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own
Patriotism: support of the U. S. Constitution and love for the United States of America with zealous guarding of their authority and interests.

Courage: willingness to face danger with determination
Loyalty: steadfastness or faithfulness to a person, institution, custom or idea to which one is tied by duty, pledge or a promise
Honor: a keen sense of ethical conduct one's word given as a guarantee of performance
Respect for the Natural Environment: care for and conservation of land, trees, clean air and pure water and of all living inhabitants of the earth

Conservation: avoiding waste and pollution of natural resources
Respect for the creator: our most basic freedoms and rights are not granted to us from the government but they are intrinsically ours; i.e., the Constitution does not grant Americans the right of freedom of speech, it simply recognizes that each of us is born with that right. This is to say that the founders of the republic recognized a higher authority, a power greater than themselves that endowed every human being with certain unalienable rights that no government or legal document could ever revoke or take away. In the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson names this life form that permeates the universe and from which our unalienable rights stem the "creator, "nature's God", and the 'supreme judge of the world'. If we are to respect life, the natural rights of all people and the authority which the founders based their legal opinions on concerning our separation from Great Britain then there must be a respect for that creator from which all our rights flow. This cannot be interpreted as a promotion of religion or even as a promotion of the belief in a personal God, but only as an acknowledgment that the intrinsic worth of every individual derives from no government, person or group of persons, but is something that each of us is born with and which no thing and no one can ever deprive us of.

RESPECT FOR OTHERS

Altruism: concern for and motivation to act for the welfare of others

Civility and cheerfulness: courtesy and politeness in action or speech
Compassion, kindness and generosity: concern for suffering or distress of others and response to their feelings and needs
Courtesy and cooperation: recognition of mutual interdependence with others resulting in polite treatment and respect for them
Integrity: confirmed virtue and uprightness of character, freedom from hypocrisy

Honesty: truthfulness and sincerity
Truth: freedom from deceit or falseness; based on fact or reality
Trustworthiness: worthy of confidence
Fairness and good sportsmanship: freedom from favoritism, self-interest or indulgence of one's likes and dislikes; abiding by the rules of a contest and accepts victory or defeat graciously
Patience: not being hasty or impetuous
RESPECT FOR SELF

Accountability: responsibility for one's actions and their consequences

Commitment: being emotionally, physically or intellectually bound to something
Perseverance and diligence: adherence to actions and their consequences
Self control and virtue: exercising authority over one's emotions and actions
Frugality: effective use of resources; thrift
Self-Esteem: pride and belief in oneself and in achievement of one's potential

Knowledge: learning, understanding, awareness
Moderation: avoidance of unreasonably extreme views or measures
Respect for physical, mental and fiscal health: awareness of the importance of and conscious activity toward maintaining fitness in these areas
Cleanliness: good habits of personal hygiene and grooming
Work Ethic: belief that work is good and that everyone who can, should work

Punctuality: being on time for attendance and tasks
Accomplishment: appreciation for completing a task
Cooperation: working with others for mutual benefit
Dependability: reliability; trustworthiness
Diligence: attentiveness; persistence; perseverance
Pride: dignity; self-respect; doing one's best
Productivity: supporting one's self, contributing to society
Creativity: exhibiting an entrepreneurial spirit inventiveness; originality; not bound by the norm
School pride: playing a contributing role in maintaining and improving all aspects of a school's environment, programs and activities within the context of contributing to the betterment of the city, county and state