Instilling important values in the young
Advertisement
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/11/2021 (565 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
November is a month when we remember the importance of courage, honour, perseverance, leadership, duty and sacrifice and those who embodied these qualities — our veterans.
How easy it is to forget. Are we teaching our children and grandchildren these values? Are we helping them learn about the people who have gone before? If you are like me, you need help. Don’t worry if Remembrance Day is past. This can be an ongoing mission.
My first suggestion is to do an internet search for Veterans Affairs Canada Remembrance. There are biographies, stories, video interviews, podcasts, and classroom lesson plans to help you learn about the contributions of Canadians from all walks of life.
Did you know that Valour Road in Winnipeg got its name after three of its residents — Cpl. Leo Clarke, Sgt.-Maj. Frederick Hall, and Lt. Robert Shankland —earned the Victoria Cross in the First World War?
Only Shankland lived to see the street re-named in 1925. I learned that at www.thecandianencyclopedia.ca. Why we have a street named for Sgt. Tommy Prince can also be found on this site.
Learning about the traits of great leaders can be inspiring for young people and www.leadershipgeeks.com is full of tools, stories, and blog posts about what it takes to lead.
Dwight Eisenhower, American commander of the Allied Forces in the Second World War placed great importance on planning, persuasion, and keeping anger at bay in order to think clearly. His quotes reflect that he was a thinker:
“In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable;”
“Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it;”
“The spirit of man is more important than mere physical strength, and the spiritual fibre of a nation than its wealth;”
Sometimes, as in the life of Winston Churchill, it is what you do with your weaknesses that counts. Though Churchill did poorly in school, he never stopped learning. He stuttered early in life but overcame it and is remembered for his powerful speeches. His most famous quotes reflect his persevering attitude:
“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty;”
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts;”
“Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never — in nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
As we take time to remember those who fought, let us also think of ways to help the younger generation grow in perseverance, courage, honour, and leadership. That’s a legacy our veterans would fight for.
Sonya Braun is a community correspondent for Springfield North.
Sonya Braun
Springfield North community correspondent
Sonya Braun is a community correspondent for Springfield North.