Values & Virtues Discussion Topic

After reading the article, it seems as though the concept of “virtue” was viewed as an
outdated concept not rooted in our Catholic history (the word virtue rarely present in the
bible). Virtues were too narrow-focused and difficult to implement because students would
not “buy-in” to this old-fashioned way of thinking. A value-based approach was much more
attractive, more contemporary, and instilled a broader range of meanings that fit nicely
within the Character Development Initiative—focused on academic success, preparing
students for the workplace and forming a peaceful and harmonious society. The problem
with the value-based approach is that it focuses too heavily on a socioeconomic reality (what
we, “ought to do”) rather than a truly personal and interpersonal reality (what we “should
do”). Virtues can be thought of as values that are actually active in our lives. Values aim to
prepare students for an ideal world whereas virtues prepare students for the real world.
With this in mind, I believe both value and virtues-language complement one another,
however a focus on virtues-language is much more valuable within our schools because the
virtuous person, as inspired by Plato and Aristotle, “is the human person fully alive, free to
respond to the challenges of life in a creative, mature and deeply human way” (P. 7).

I suppose the challenge of Catholic Schools, in present time, is finding ways to

redefine the virtues-based approach so that is aligns with the values, cultures, traditions,
and ideologies of modern students. Repeated exposure to modern-day examples of actions
displaying virtues of faith, hope, and love are a great way of showing our students what it
means to life a virtuous life. This exposure can come from displaying it ourselves, as role
models, commenting on students who display virtues, or simply pointing them out in
community or media examples.