Friday, April 17, 2015

What Really Matters Most, CHARACTER or INTELLIGENCE?

All of us parents want our children to be intelligent. We want them to learn a lot of things right after they are born. We worry about the first words they will utter, the school they will attend, their teachers and classmates and all other things that affect and that may contribute to their learning. We worry a lot on their academic achievements. But is it being intelligent that matters most? Our world now values one's right thoughts more rather than one's right actions. Our education puts more weight on educating one's mind rather than moral. What really matters most, character or intelligence? Do we have to polish literacy first before character? For me, intelligence without character is nothing. If we focus more on educating children's mind and not include building their character, we are creating individuals that will still become a menace to our society. We should ensure that intelligence comes with good character. We must build a society where academic and character are at par. Teachers in school must know that they are character educators no matter what subjects or what levels of education they teach. 

Nowadays, intelligent people especially those who are working in the public office usually tend to be involved in corruption. Why? because they have poor moral backbone. Some people praise others according to their thoughts rather than their actions. We usually choose people who are said to be brilliant rather than those of good character to be our government leaders. And because of a lot of issues in the world that involve people with poor character, we have to strengthen and nurture academics on the platform of good manners. But how do we do that? We all know that all education curricula of course include behavior courses/subjects and still children display improper and sometimes unacceptable character. We must consider these things to be of help to our children.

Recognition of the teaching profession as a tool in shaping morally upright children should be a concern of all people. Teachers must be planning their daily lessons that integrate good manners in all subject areas. They must also walk the talk. Mentors should represent words with action. All teachers must acknowledge that they are the primary social architects of the world so they have to "Practice what they preach." In this regard, students will learn more because character is built daily in school. All school personnel must get involved. Younger students are always amenable and can be changed through peer interaction/teaching and proper mentoring.

What about parents? Parents should stop bragging about their children's intellectual capacity but have to be focused on working towards molding them into having high moral values. They have to emphasize to their children that character is more important than intelligence. They should explain that what is indeed important is that they have hearts that are kind and compassionate to others. Parents have to stop worrying about their children's academic achievements but have to work on character traits development. Children can learn character within the family environment.  

WHAT THEN REALLY MATTERS MOST?

God bestowed us with gifts in abundance. God gave us the gift of intellect. This gift is given to us by our most powerful God for us to use properly. God also has given each one of us gifts of character. Improving children's cognitive skills are important factors to attain life's success but what matters most really is to teach them to become persistent, conscientious, optimistic, kind, compassionate, motivated, disciplined and God-fearing. These traits are collectively known as CHARACTER. We really do not teach intelligence to children. We only cultivate and develop students' intellect. Character traits can be taught. Character-forming traits can create better people of the world.

Therefore, let us join hands into molding kind-hearted, compassionate, and disciplined children. Having good-mannered children today will help us build a better world.   


"IT'S NOT OUR JOB TO TOUGHEN OUR CHILDREN UP TO FACE A CRUEL AND HEARTLESS WORLD. IT'S OUR JOB TO RAISE CHILDREN WHO WILL MAKE THE WORLD A LITTLE LESS CRUEL AND HEARTLESS." L.R. Knost


2 comments:

  1. Character and Intelligence is equally important for me, but if I am asked to choose between people with good character or intelligence? I'd choose character or attitude. I'd rather go with people with good character, I feel safer with these people.

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  2. Intelligence cannot acquire character but from character you can acquire intelligence.

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