Search Institute: Archives

Adapted from Learning and Living:
How Asset Building for Youth Can Unify a School's Mission
by Don Draayer and Eugene C. Roehlkepartain
(from August 1995, Youth Update newsletter)

Assets Among Students in Lutheran Schools

Our nation is embroiled in a contentious debate about education. On one side, people contend that schools provide too many social service "frills" and need to get "back to the basics" of academics. Others fear that schools are doing too little to overcome the enviormental challenges that keep many youth from doing well academically.

The debate goes to the heart of education:
What are schools expected to do?

Successful schools reflect what research says: Young people need both challenging content and emotionally and socially supportive school enviroments to achieve acedemically. They are not competing priorities, but reinforcing aspects of total student development.

Research by Search Institute brings clarity and practicality to this concept. It focuses on the things young people need to grow up healthy, principled, and caring: developmental assets. The assets fit into six broad categories: support, boundaries, structured time use, educational commitment, positive values, and social competencies. The more of these assets youth experience, the more likely they are to make positive choices and avoid unhealthy behaviors. Everyone can build these assets. They are common-sense things that many people already do, but don't often think about.

The key to asset building is a shift in thinking-a shift toward promoting the positive, a shift away from a problem-solving approach in education.

Asset building provides a framework for thinking about a school's mission that isn't confined to a set of rules, procedures, or formulas. It gives an opportunity to re-examine every aspect of school life. Search Institute has identified 10 strategies to consider in integrating asset building into a school's mission.

Build a Shared Vision and Commitment.
The vision of asset building must capture the imagination and energy of everyone in the school community, including administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals, support staff, other school staff, parents, and students.
Assess Current Needs, Structures, and Resources.
Surveys of staff and students, focus groups, and other information-gathering tools can all be used in identifying priority needs among youth, major concerns, and areas of strength to celebrate.
Create a Positive, Safe School Climate.
Youth who feel threatened, insecure, apathetic, or angry can not learn and grow effectively. Schools must set standards and policies that nurture a healthy, supportive environment for students.
Establish and Enforce Consistent Boundries.
Public Agenda reports that Americans consistently name a lack of discipline as a major problem facing public schools. An emphasis on supporting and caring for students must be balanced with clearly stated and enforced boundaries.
Involve Students in Structured Activities.
With asset building as a focus, co-curricular activities are not "extra." They play a central role in students' healthy development.
Promote Education Commitment.
In today's changing world, a commitment to and interest in lifelong learning is critically important. Young people need to be encouraged and challenged to be actively engaged in their education, through high school and beyond.
Articulate and Nurture Positive, Shared Values.
While many values can be contentious, others have widespread support. Identifying and articulating positive, commonly held values in schools can instill those values in youth. These values may include respect, responsibility, a commitment to social justice, equality, and honesty.
Develop Social Competencies.
Competencies such as decision-making skills, self esteem, and assertiveness are critical components of healthy development. It is important to integrate these competencies into curriculum for all ages.
Engage Parents in Their Children's Learning.
A great deal of research stresses the importance of parent involvement in their children's education. Schools can encourage this involvement by communicating regularly with parents, finding opportunities for parents to volunteer or visit the school, and offering opportunities for parents to continue their own education (through programs such as community education or parenting classes).
Build Bridges With The Community.
The challenge of asset building is not only to give each youth a support person, but also a support system. Schools can be catalysts for community-wide involvement by sharing resources, information, and a commitment to young people within the larger community.

Building assets rests upon the proverbial wisdom that "It takes a whole village to raise a child." When everyone in a community accepts responsibility and works toward a vision of asset-rich youth, we can expect a tremendous payoff.

Assets Among Students in Lutheran Schools

Students in Lutheran ChurchĐMissouri Synod schools experience a slightly higher number of the 30 assets than their public-school peers. A recent survey of 10,900 Lutheran school students in 6th through 12th grade found an average of 17.3 of the 30 assets, compared with 16.5 evidenced by public school students.

Despite their overall greater number of assets, the Lutheran students reported less concern about helping others than public school students. Here is a sample of some of the other findings:

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