Educators have taught the importance of ethics and integrity for millennia, dating back to the ancient empires of Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
Unfortunately, not all educators today, nor the institutions they serve, emphasize the importance of a strong ethical foundation. That’s one of many areas of focus that sets apart independent institutions like Delphian School, a K-12 school in rural Oregon.
According to Applied Scholastics, Delphian School follows eight basic educational principles, including “ethics and integrity.” Others include applying a personal touch to education, mastering basic concepts, emphasizing literacy, and achieving close coordination between parents, faculty, and students.
Delphian School’s philosophy is not entirely unique, as it’s practiced at four to six other Delphi Schools across the U.S. and mirrored to greater or lesser degrees at many other institutions. Still, it’s rare in some key respects. At the broadest level, Delphian School imparts a range of fundamental “soft skills” that some believe can’t be taught.
The achievements of Delphian School’s students and graduates suggest otherwise. In its model, ethics and integrity sit alongside other crucial competencies, such as teamwork, self-discipline, enthusiasm, and research skills, among others. The result is a comprehensive, thoughtful approach to education that produces well-rounded, high-achieving students ready to make their mark on the world.
Should other schools adjust their own models to match Delphian School? As key measures of student achievement fall nationwide, that might not be a bad idea. Here’s why.
Table of Contents
A Strong Ethical Foundation Acts As a Guardrail For Students in School and Their Future Endeavors
First and foremost, a strong ethical compass acts as a rudder — or a moor, if you prefer a different marine analogy — for students as they move through their educational careers.
They’ll encounter a range of situations in their academic texts and real-world activities that will compel them to put on their ethicists’ hats and reason from first principles.
Understanding how to think ethically is an important first step.
Integrity Is As Much About Saying “Yes” As Saying “No”
A strong ethical foundation also helps students evaluate the opportunities they’ll face in school and, later, in the workforce and their personal lives.
Although we most often think about ethics as a source of strength to say “no” to demands that make us uncomfortable (or worse), an ethical compass can also help us see more clearly the sorts of opportunities that we really should say “yes” to.
Ethics and Integrity Are Correlated With Other Positive Character Traits
It’s rare to find a truly ethical person who’s not the “complete package” — that is, who’s also patient, kind, thoughtful, and so on.
In fact, rude or abrasive people who claim to think and behave ethically are more often than not being dishonest about that.
Honesty and integrity are other positive character traits.
An Ethical Compass Is a Standout Quality
Ethical living is something many preach but few practice.
This gap can widen to a chasm in professions that prioritize “growth,” “scale,” or vague “results” above more tangible, human-centered measures of success.
For students thinking about what they’ll do after graduating, having a strong sense of integrity is an excellent way to stand out in real life — not just on a paper resume.
Ethical Students Know What They Stand For (And What They Don’t)
Ethical people are often mistakenly assumed to be overly deliberative, perhaps even neurotic.
The stereotype has them thinking things through long after they should have decided, weighing the pros and cons from every angle.
This is not only misleading — for many, it’s downright inaccurate.
Ethical people often arrive at big decisions faster than their less-certain peers because they know what they stand for and what they’ll stand up to.
That’s a big advantage in school and later in life as well.
Ethical Students Are Less Vulnerable to Peer Pressure, Now and Later
For similar reasons, ethical students are less vulnerable to peer pressure.
That’s a relief to parents who rightly worry that their children will make unwise decisions as they grow.
A willingness and a demonstrated ability to stand up to peer pressure ensures students thrive no matter where they find themselves.
Ethical People Tend to Congregate
In a beneficial demonstration of “network effects,” ethical people tend to be drawn to other people with integrity.
This is why some organizations are consistently known for “doing the right thing.”
Of course, the opposite is also true, which is why other organizations have less-than-sterling reputations.
By finding their moral moorings, students set themselves up for a future where they’re part of something greater than themselves.
An Ethical Compass Is a “Differentiator” in Business
True to these positive network effects, some of the world’s strongest brands embody ethics and integrity, according to Women’s Agenda.
While not every student will go on to start or play a leadership role in a business, those who’ve developed sound ethical foundations early in life will find themselves at an advantage should they choose to do so.
Ethics and Integrity Are Ingredients for “No-Regrets” Living
Last but not least, the ability to translate a strong moral foundation into a road map for ethical decision-making is a starting point for “no-regrets” living.
Not in the hedonistic, anything-goes sense, but in the happy, healthy life sense. Some would say that’s everything.
Delphian School and its nationwide network of Delphi Schools offer a healthy dose of hope for those of us concerned about the state of education in America.
Their approach isn’t perfect; no educational model could possibly be.
However, judging by the achievements of their students and graduates, and self-reported measures of satisfaction among parents and educators, their work has struck a chord with the public.
So, should other K-12 institutions follow in their footsteps and consider a more comprehensive approach that treats students as whole individuals and emphasizes the importance of foundational character traits like ethics and integrity?
Educators and administrators should certainly explore the possibility.
And because the work of reimagining an educational model takes time, there’s no moment like the present to begin.
