positive education for the future
He teamed up with KIPP founder David
Levin to probe the essence of resilience, and
they whittled it down to seven qualities:
self-control, grit, zest, social intelligence,
optimism, gratitude and curiosity. They then
set about making these the cornerstones of
their respective schools’ programmes.
The ‘Character Growth Card’ emerged after
rigorous debate by students and staff at
Riverdale and at KIPP Schools.
The seven qualities bear closer examination.
Optimism stresses a refusal to let setbacks
adversely affect one. Zest is about
enthusiasm and active participation. Grit is
about diligent work and the completion of
tasks. Curiosity is about asking questions and
independent thinking. Social Intelligence
is about adaptability, inclusion of others
and finding resolution. Gratitude is not only
about feeling, but expressing appreciation.
Self-Control is about prioritising long-term
gains above easy fixes. Randolph deliberately
teamed up with David Levin to show that
the schools at