What is Important in Education: Character

The United States puts a lot of money and faith in education, but what is important in helping people live successful and happy lives? The New York Times had an article yesterday on a team of psychologists at Penn (my alma mater), which stress elements of character, but not just "moral" elements of character, but elements of character which lead a person to be a better performer. The group at Penn seven key character traits: zest, grit, self-control, social intelligence, gratitude, optimism, and curiosity. For my STS302H class, we might think of this as an update on Benjamin Franklin's virtues. One big theme in the history of technology is that people constantly fail or hit walls in what they do. The virtue of "grit" emphasizes the need to keep going in the face of difficulties. These traits are a reminder that a GPA is not the only reason we go to college or seek education.