Teaching Character the Duggar Way

[Kitty]

duggarsblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/teaching-character-duggar-way.html

 

Yeah, Michelle, in her Parentables post, totes brings up the 49 character qualities, as devised by Bill Gothard.

 

Of course, she doesn't actually link to Gothard, she links to the Duggar family's site, and seems to present them as her/Jim Bob's own ideas. That's plagiarism, Michelle, and that violates probably 4 of the 49 character qualities that I can think of.

[Guest Anonymous]

duggarsblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/teaching-character-duggar-way.html

Yeah, Michelle, in her Parentables post, totes brings up the 49 character qualities, as devised by Bill Gothard.

Of course, she doesn't actually link to Gothard, she links to the Duggar family's site, and seems to present them as her/Jim Bob's own ideas. That's plagiarism, Michelle, and that violates probably 4 of the 49 character qualities that I can think of. :naughty:

Love this! I used to watch the show, and never understood what this whole character quality thing was about, and how the Bates knew about it as well, seeing as it was shown as something the Duggar's had invented - but it makes a whole lot more sense now, that the Duggar's plagiarize.

[GeoBQn]

I hate the emphasis on "character" education.

1. Learning things like concrete facts and skills are important too.

2. In a school or academically sound homeschool program, students can learn concrete facts and skills in a way that also teaches character.

3. The arbitrary and large number of 49 and the constant emphasis on learning them is clearly a way to scare the kids and preoccupy their thoughts so that they don't think about how wrong this all is.

[Guest Anonymous]

Also with this many character qualities, they lose all meaning. Take initiative, but obey... I can see how that would confuse younger children. Should I do something of my own accord, or should I wait for someone to tell me what to do?

[uber frau]

I think that if you need a set(supposedly) K-12 curriculum to teach character, you're not doing it right. 'Character' is something children learn in the real world through osmosis, not through eleventy billion worksheets and memorising a few proof-texts. A child is going to learn about respect by being ppl who treat each other respectfully (and by seeing what happens when ppl don't treat each other with respect. Hopefully, they'll learn this as gently as possible and have a safe place to process it), a child is going to learn about perseverance by having realistic goals to aim for, and by seeing the way other ppl work toward their goals. Character development is an involved and messy process and you can't neatly bypass it with a handful of one-size-fits-all Wisdom books.

[Guest Anonymous]

I think they think if they throw the wisdom booklets at their kids, then they'll grow up right, no matter what happens to them!

[bananacat]

Hmm, I don't want to see their website, but do they have the punctuality character quality listed? They're such giant, uncaring assholes.

[apple1]

Hmm, I don't want to see their website, but do they have the punctuality character quality listed? They're such giant, uncaring assholes.

billgothard.com/teaching/characterqualities

Here you go - from the original source. Punctuality included.

[MetalLaLa]

You can try to teach character qualities, but not everyone will actually HAVE them in later life. It really is a case of something that is picked up as you go through childhood, adulthood and general life, and not something that can be taught at school age and be expected to know and perform. Someone please tell me how someone be given a curriculum and grade on 'loyalty'? I personally enjoy the opposite of 'Meekness' being given as 'Anger' on the Character Qualities chart I found linked on the Duggar blog! How is that the opposite at all?

[socalrules]

I don't understand the point of the Duggars teaching character traits at all. They don't give their children the opportunit to show if all their training has even worked. I mean, their adult daughters are not even allowed to go to the grocery store by themselves. Their adult children cannot cannot even be alone with someone they are courting. It just seems a waste of time teaching something that will never be used. Besides, I think it is a waste because I don't believe that you can teach character like you do math. If you get an "A" on your character worksheet, all it means is that you know the answers the exam expects. It doesn't mean that you are now infused with the character traits that you studied. I have been a lover of baseball since I was a kid. I would probably do well on a written exam. Yet, I can guarantee you that I do not have the ability to play major league baseball.

[Visionoyahweh]

I hate the emphasis on "character" education.

1. Learning things like concrete facts and skills are important too.

2. In a school or academically sound homeschool program, students can learn concrete facts and skills in a way that also teaches character.

3. The arbitrary and large number of 49 and the constant emphasis on learning them is clearly a way to scare the kids and preoccupy their thoughts so that they don't think about how wrong this all is.

4. They're all dichotomous false choices. Purity vs. impurity, self control vs. self indulgence, etc. When it comes right down to it, everyone is a mixed bag.

[Guest Anonymous]

I don't understand the point of the Duggars teaching character traits at all. They don't give their children the opportunit to show if all their training has even worked. I mean, their adult daughters are not even allowed to go to the grocery store by themselves. Their adult children cannot cannot even be alone with someone they are courting. It just seems a waste of time teaching something that will never be used. Besides, I think it is a waste because I don't believe that you can teach character like you do math. If you get an "A" on your character worksheet, all it means is that you know the answers the exam expects. It doesn't mean that you are now infused with the character traits that you studied. I have been a lover of baseball since I was a kid. I would probably do well on a written exam. Yet, I can guarantee you that I do not have the ability to play major league baseball.

Makes sense, but I saw an episode where after the J'Slaves were forced to give blood, they all went to the supermarket together. Also in "Driving Miss Duggar's" they all drove home as a group, so they do things by themselves.... wait.... actually.... I see what you mean! :shock: They always do things as a group of the older girls. THEY NEVER DO ANYTHING ALONE! YOU ARE SO RIGHT.

[Tator Tot Tubby]

Isn't "Character Training" just a nice way of saying brainwashing?

[SpeakNow]

I think a certain amount of character education is necessary- but not in the way the Duggars do it. Children need to learn socially acceptable behavior, respect etc. Memorizing 49 insane "traits" does not make for good character. Learning respect and social responsibility does.

[Sola]

Well looking at how Smuggar turned out, I'd say the Duggar Way didn't turn out so well.

[lilwriter85]

I don't understand the point of the Duggars teaching character traits at all. They don't give their children the opportunit to show if all their training has even worked. I mean, their adult daughters are not even allowed to go to the grocery store by themselves. Their adult children cannot cannot even be alone with someone they are courting. It just seems a waste of time teaching something that will never be used. Besides, I think it is a waste because I don't believe that you can teach character like you do math. If you get an "A" on your character worksheet, all it means is that you know the answers the exam expects. It doesn't mean that you are now infused with the character traits that you studied. I have been a lover of baseball since I was a kid. I would probably do well on a written exam. Yet, I can guarantee you that I do not have the ability to play major league baseball.

The adult Duggar kids really haven't made any choices on their own to show character traits. Josh's courtship with Anna was approved. Jana going off to work at ATI is Duggar approved. The other adult kids John, Jill,Jessa, and Jinger still aren't making choices on their own. I looked up some info on the midwife Jill is training under and the midwife was also probably Duggar approved. The midwife seems maybe fundie lite and she attended a Christian high school and Oral Roberts University. Jill would have never been able to train under an agnostic or atheist midwife. John has his towing business which Boob set up for him John probably still has to ask permission to do a lot of things outside the home. I think John seems ok and he would be the only one that would do ok working outside of the Duggar businesses. Smuggar wouldn't last working for someone else

[alysee]

The adult Duggar kids really haven't made any choices on their own to show character traits. Josh's courtship with Anna was approved. Jana going off to work at ATI is Duggar approved. The other adult kids John, Jill,Jessa, and Jinger still aren't making choices on their own. I looked up some info on the midwife Jill is training under and the midwife was also probably Duggar approved. The midwife seems maybe fundie lite and she attended a Christian high school and Oral Roberts University. Jill would have never been able to train under an agnostic or atheist midwife. John has his towing business which Boob set up for him John probably still has to ask permission to do a lot of things outside the home. I think John seems ok and he would be the only one that would do ok working outside of the Duggar businesses. Smuggar wouldn't last working for someone else

Who is Jill studying under? Do you have a name?

[Whydoyouask]

http://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/program ... ntices.pdf.

page 2

midwife info

http://www.texasmidwives.com/midwives/m ... p?mwid=369

[Witsec7]

So does Jill go to Texas to study? This really makes no sense at all.

[Swamptribe]

Ya know, in a generation or two, there will be nobody around who is capable of making decisions. Unless they get some outsiders to convert.

[MonkeyMomma]

So does Jill go to Texas to study? This really makes no sense at all.

Looks like the mw is licensed in TX and AR, so Jill may not have to leave the state to study. How close is the compound to the state line?

[Coconut Flan]

Tontitown is hours from Texas. I think the midwife is located in their area.

[HOTW]

Interesting that Debora Query is on th elist as well as Therese Fedorsky,who helped deliver Anna the first time. Perhaps there was a midwife there who refused to be on camera??

[lilwriter85]

I think the midwife is probably now based in Arkansas. I don't see the Duggars letting Jill off to Texas. I found the midwife's myspace page in addition to the links another poster put up. The midwife seems fundie lite or mainstream Christian. She listens to pop and country music. She watches Lifetime. I hope she introduces Jill to some pop culture.

[Guest Anonymous]

I think a certain amount of character education is necessary- but not in the way the Duggars do it. Children need to learn socially acceptable behavior, respect etc. Memorizing 49 insane "traits" does not make for good character. Learning respect and social responsibility does.

:) I have no problem with people teaching their children that they should be patient and thankful, but continuously drilling into them 49 traits - most of which could be condensed together - is ridiculous! And learning the opposites makes it even more difficult. I don't think personally I could learn 98 words and the pairings with them.