Keys to Quality Youth Development

Table of Contents	Next Topic
6. Youth Discuss Conflicting Values And Form Their Own
Premise
Youth have a safe place to talk with other youth and adults about values and topics that are important to them. All beliefs and questions are respected and taken seriously.
Building a Foundation Positive Values Positive values give young people something to strive for. The Search Institute identifies important examples: Caring - Young person places high value on helping other people. Equality and social justice - Young person places high value on promoting equality and reducing hunger and poverty. Integrity - Young person acts on convictions and stands up for her or his beliefs. Honesty - Young person tells the truth, even when it is not easy. Responsibility - Young person accepts and takes personal responsibility. Restraint - Young person believes it is important not to be sexually active or to use alcohol or other drugs.	Selecting Outcomes What will be done in your program to make sure youth - form their own values and beliefs? feel free to express their values and beliefs? understand and respect the values and beliefs of others?
Identifying Practices
Encourage open discussion. Use brainstorming where all responses are accepted. Have youth work with adults to set ground rules that will assure a respectful environment. Plan time for youth to "reflect" and talk about what they have learned. Be aware of your own values and beliefs. Model behaviors that match your values. Encourage youth and adults to listen to one another. Encourage youth and adults to share opinions and ask questions.
How It Works    Teen leaders in a local youth group who met monthly didn’t seem to get anything accomplished. They were always arguing and taking sides about the issues the group was dealing with. Some felt excluded because their views were not accepted. Half were not talking at all. No one felt good about the experience and attendance was dropping. The leader encouraged the teens to establish ground rules. Each person silently wrote the ground rules he or she felt were important. The teens then took turns sharing their ideas with the whole group. Teens discussed the ground rules and voted to accept the final list that included respect for others’ opinions. The list was posted at each meeting. Participants held each other responsible for following the ground rules.    Two meetings later, almost everyone was feeling more comfortable expressing their views and were actively participating in the meetings.	Things To Think About There are no right or wrong answers when discussing values. Encourage everyone to participate in diverse ways. Acknowledge everyone’s view point. Recognize emotions but don’t allow them to dominate the experience. Words Of Wisdom "If trusted and respected, young people readily learn to evaluate situations, make decisions, and solve problems." The Forgotten Half, p. 51.
Questions For Youth
Think about a time you were in a group and some members of the group had different beliefs.    How was the situation handled?    How did you feel in the situation?    What did you learn from the situation?    How were your values and beliefs different from others?
Table of Contents	Next Topic

Produced by Communication and Educational Technology Services, University of Minnesota Extension.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this material is available in alternative formats upon request. Please contact your University of Minnesota Extension office or the Distribution Center at (800) 876-8636.

University of Minnesota Extension is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.