BY: BEANIE GEOGHEGAN
One of the first things people do when setting out on a road trip is to input the address of the destination into an app that provides step-by-step directions. Though some apps will provide options, most people generally choose the quickest and easiest route. The trip is a success if the destination is reached safely and without any significant incidents. The journey through childhood and adolescence is similar. Children rely on clear guidance to help them reach adulthood free from major incidents. When deprived of the knowledge of the necessary steps, success can seem remote and inaccessible.
Thanks to Ian Rowe, the adults tasked with helping young people navigate the winding paths of childhood and adolescence now have a tool to assist them. Since first reading Rowe’s book Agency a couple of years ago, I have been pleased to recommend it to educators and education leaders I’ve encountered. In a toxic cultural climate of encouraging and celebrating victimhood, it’s refreshing to hear a strong, logical voice argue for empowering students to be agents of their own victories instead. Now, in addition to the book, parents, teachers, and mentors have access to a free toolkit that accompanies it.
If you’re unfamiliar with the book or the term, Ian Rowe defines ‘agency’ as “the force of one’s free will, guided by moral discernment. It is informed by an individual sense of identity and purpose.” It is about believing in the potential of every young person and providing them with the necessary knowledge, support, and resources they need to reach it. Rowe uses the acronym F.R.E.E. to highlight the four pillars of agency. In his book and within the toolkit, he demonstrates how Family, Religion, Education, and entrepreneurship are key elements in the future success of children, regardless of the circumstances surrounding their start in life.
Teachers are encouraged to read the book with their students using the free study guide to facilitate conversations around the ideas discussed in each chapter. Lesson plans will soon be available for download as well.
One clear way adults can empower students with agency is by providing them with a framework for success. Rowe references the Success Sequence as one example. The idea of this formula is that individuals who graduate from high school, get a job, and get married prior to having children will likely experience a more successful life. On any road trip, there are never guarantees that there won’t be traffic jams or unexpected delays. There are no guarantees in life either, but studies show that individuals who follow this formula have a greater chance of later flourishing in their educational, personal, and professional lives.
Part of that “sequence” involves developing the skills to have healthy relationships throughout life. It shouldn’t be assumed that every home models or teaches children how to do this therefore the toolkit includes resources that specifically focus on it. Love Notes highlights the importance of building healthy relationships and the benefits of making good decisions within those relationships. It also includes free lesson plans for parents and teachers to use at their discretion.
The book and the toolkit were enough to win me over and motivate me to encourage other educators to check them out, but the mini-documentary series on the website sealed the deal. Hearing the stories of individuals who testified to the impact of one or more pillars of agency in their lives is a reminder of the positive power family, religion, education, and entrepreneurship can have. One or more of those pillars can be the catalyst to change the trajectory of a young person’s life, which can potentially change the lives of many.
If, as the song says, “Life Is A Highway,” adults need to do all they can to ensure that children and adolescents have the tools and directions they need to travel that road and successfully reach the destination of flourishing adulthood.