GE Tenets and Key Ideas

G.E. Tenets:
High Expectations - Robert Rosenthal   and Lenore Jacobson
Educators - who hold high expectations for their learners, communicate those expectations clearly, and encourage learners in their charge to work hard in order to rise to the level of those expectations – can make a difference in students’ success. High expectations move learners forward, even if those learners don’t achieve total mastery. Educators also have a role in helping their 21st century learners set significant aspirations for themselves in a media-rich, global network of unlimited possibilities.

“We must have courage to bet on our ideas, to take the calculated risk, and to act. Everyday living requires courage if life is to be effective and bring happiness."
-
Maxwell Maltz, American cosmetic surgeon, author of Psycho-Cybernetics

 

Teacher Attitude and Responsibility - Haim Ginott, John and Eunice Gilmore
Educators are accountable, not only for imparting content, but for developing virtuous citizens. Educators’ own attitudes toward their responsibilities are a model for all whom they meet. To lead by example means to hold oneself to a higher standard and to support others as they develop their own sense of responsibility. Great leaders create an influence that others strive to follow.

“Manners are like the zero in arithmetic; they may not be much by themselves, but they are capable of adding a great deal of the value of everything else."
- Freya Stark, British explorer

Teacher Knowledge and Skill - Benjamin Bloom

Innovative educators are knowledgeable and skilled in techniques that enable learners to maximize the benefits of each learning experience. Innovative educators continue to expand their arsenal of pedagogical techniques and focus on keeping pace with current educational initiatives. Innovative educators realize their influence in the learning environment; they can motivate, inspire, and challenge individuals to achieve excellence in living and learning. Innovative educators are life-long learners.

Key Ideas

  • A school-wide pedagogy of character education not only builds strong citizens, but motivates and enables them to positively change their world.
  • Modeling is a strong teacher.  Positive models can motivate, inspire, and challenge all learners.
  • Excellence in modeling can prepare learners for the challenges of tomorrow’s world.