In the high school classroom, teachers inherently, mistakenly assume kids, a captive audience, want to be there, are desirous of getting the information beyond just a passing grade, are ready to listen, will go along with few or no questions ask, and want nothing outside the classroom need interfere for this class period. Granted, getting information into these “skulls of mush” is important if, and only if, the retention of same serves the greater good of each teen’s purpose in life.

Oh, come on, you might be thinking.  Teachers don’t have time for all that “greater good of each teen’s purpose in life” stuff, particularly, in high school.  High school students need so much knowledge and are up against so many odds, i.e., test scores, peer pressures, body changes, life focus blurs, etc. that the pressure is on to stuff, stuff, stuff those young brains.  They must have information in the information, virtual communication age!

Oh, contraire!  The teacher’s content knowledge passed on to students is important but not to stuff, stuff, stuff but to inspire, instill, create a passion for lifelong learning.  A democratic society depends on it but more than that, the gift and promise of freedom demands it. Kids succumb to disappointment, discouragement, and depression when they are not equipped to think out problems in light of each one’s uniqueness, each one’s destiny, and what is actual versus what is real for all time.

That’s where you come in, business person or retired professional.  You can be the balance that allows teachers to be more than  content pushers. Volunteering to mentor teens with a personal curriculum for life purpose discovery and engagement (StrengthBank®), focuses them so that information is taken in for a specific purpose other than a test or “because I said so.”  Acquiring information becomes a way for each teen to live out each one’s own life purpose to its fullest and to live with joy even in tough circumstances.  Teachers knowing they have a meaningful mentoring partner who is “happening” with the students is more able to bring content alive and get it retained on a personal level. Whala! A prepared workforce, ready to contribute!

Don’t blame the teacher if kids do not do well on tests.  Blame the lack of motivation for learning that has meaning in the teen’s eye for the long term, specific to each one’s innate, created bank of strengths.

Be a StrengthBank® Volunteer.  Help us get StrengthBank® into your local high school and let the test scores be only the peripheral benefit of living a focused, fulfilled life!  Contact Sandra Shelton, Executive Director, StrengthBank Inc. and get started.