A Fence or An Ambulance

Last week, a friend of mine shared with me a poem called A Fence or An Ambulance written in 1895 by Joseph Malins. This is a poetic case for the value of prevention, or in other words, the importance of character building. So I did a search for it and I was impressed with this video that came up. I am sharing it with you.
http://www.characterfirst.com/aboutus/video/Fence/

My first year of homeschooling, 10 families created a co-op where we met once a week. The class I was assigned to co-teach used the first book from the curriculum Character First. It was a fun, hands-on year for my sons' first year away from the public school system. I loved teaching Character First!

During this same year, I continued my life long learning so I could become a better educator for my children and others around me. I became familiar with Charlotte Mason, an educator in the 1800's. In her 6th volume, p. 147, she writes, "But the function of education is not to give technical skill but to develop a person; the more of a person, the better the work of whatever kind." 

This is what leadership education does. It develops character so that no matter what work an individual does, he or she is leading out and doing the best "work of that kind" whether it's being a doctor, a librarian, a tow truck drive, etc. work ethic is exemplary not due to compulsion but because it is instilled; it is second nature. An ambulance isn't needed because the fence was built around the cliff.

So let's go build a "fence" ...  because our character depends on it.