When I was young, we were taught penmanship in school. My grandfather carefully edged his manicured lawn with precision. My grandmother whipped her meringue cookies by hand and dropped them on the cookie sheet in measured form. Healthy pride was instilled in every task. We found art in folding clothes, wrapping packages, maintaining vehicles, and arranging flowers. Art was everywhere, and appropriate pride was exalted.
The word pride is not often used in academic circles anymore. It has become a complex term that carries contradictory meanings, a contranym. Pride evokes positivity because, by definition, pride is deep satisfaction in the completion of work. The word pride has been adopted by the LBGTQ community as a positive symbol and a reminder to lead open, genuine lives. Pride simultaneously, though, carries negative connotations. Egocentric literary characters, such as Odysseus, remind us that hubris clouds judgment; pride is, therefore, linked with corruption and selfishness. In Christian teachings, pride is the deadliest of the seven deadly sins. Similarly, in Judaism, pride is a vice; humility a virtue. I contend, however, that healthy pride is essential to the development of a strong work ethic.
During the pandemic, pride has naturally subsided. Instead of focusing on our appearance and our work, we have, at times, become distracted and robotic. I believe that we need to cultivate healthy pride now, particularly in our high school students.
What strikes me about what I witness today is the dichotomy I see in students: Some students still have a healthy amount of pride in their work; others seem to have no pride whatsoever. This latter category of students whip off a one-line sentence to a homework assignment in mere seconds, presumably for the completion grade, and without a second thought. In the process, the assignment loses all meaning. Perhaps teachers would assign less homework if students engaged in each task more thoughtfully and thoroughly, if students attacked each assignment with pride. Perhaps, on the other hand, this lack of pride is the result of too much homework, an age-old chicken-and-egg debate. Either way, I believe we will find greater success with a combination of less homework, higher expectations, and quality work.
As parents and teachers, I believe one of the many obligations we owe our children should be to cultivate healthy pride, an emphasis on excellence. Here are a few ways to nurture healthy pride:
Model pride in daily tasks.
Encourage children to be artists and to pursue the arts.
Show appreciation for art.
Observe your children’s work product. Ask to read their essays.
Set expectations, and offer constructive praise and criticism.
Require fewer assignments but expect much more from each task, whether homework, as teachers, or chores, as parents.
Do not award completion grades, participation trophies, or payment for children’s responsibilities.
Often pride and work ethic go hand-in-hand. Taking time to produce quality work is a key component of a strong work ethic. Healthy pride leads to a strong sense of self-worth and purpose. Care and thoughtful attention to each task are the goal, and right now, our school culture could use a big dose of healthy pride.