The Importance of Discipline and Character Development
In our journey of faith, discipline and character development are vital components of growing closer to God and living a life that honors Him. These qualities are not just self-help principles; they are deeply rooted in Scripture and central to our spiritual growth. In a world filled with distractions and instant gratification, discipline and character development stand as pillars of personal growth and success. These qualities are not just buzzwords; they are the foundation upon which we build our lives.

Scriptural Foundation and the Role of Teachers
When I think of discipline and character development, I think of Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way that they should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Character is defined as the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual. In our daily routines, we make choices based on our beliefs—either consciously or unconsciously—that will affect what our character becomes. With that being said, your actions and words will show people what your character is.

In order for a student to develop a positive, God-like character, not only do we as teachers have to teach these qualities, but we must also embody them. Discipline can be defined as an activity or experience that provides mental or physical training. This means that there has to be something that happens where thoughts and actions are able to be taught, enforced, reinforced, or redirected. Through the process of discipline, we are able to build character.

Discipline as a Foundation for Growth
When I was a football player from the age of 5 to 25, I trained daily in order to reach my full potential as an athlete. There were things that I naturally did well, and there were bad habits that I had to work to stop doing. This directly correlates with character development. We are training our students every day; each day brings its triumphs and challenges that we look forward to helping our students navigate. As we continue to cultivate their character, we give them the grace to be human, with the expectation that based on what we have taught them, they will make better decisions for themselves to become people of Godly character.

Teaching the Fruits of the Spirit and Overcoming Cultural Challenges
Showing our students the fruits of the Spirit daily is of the utmost importance to me. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are all attributes that the world tells our students will allow them to be taken advantage of, left out, or unsuccessful. However, these are the attributes that Christ has called us to show everyone. We, as teachers, strive to demonstrate these qualities to our students. My prayer is that our students will not only show their teachers the fruits of the Spirit but also show them to one another.

Showing the fruits of the Spirit of God is very important and very hard. The culture around us teaches us to be everything except these nine values. My heart for our students is to teach them that even when they are receiving negative consequences, they and those around them can still show the fruits of the Spirit to make changes so they do not repeat the same mistakes.

Living Out Godly Character as Role Models
As teachers, we show students what character looks like. It is easy to explain to anyone what a person of Godly character looks like, but it is very hard to live out that lifestyle. As adults—teachers, parents, and administrators—we have to make sure that we are living out all the attributes we want our students to exemplify. We must show them through love and empathy. There is a saying, “People don’t care what you know until they know you care.” We have to exemplify the love of Christ. That love will pull on their hearts to change. It is hard to be evil to someone who is genuinely showing you love. Everything we do starts with love.

Practical Steps to Foster a Spirit-Filled School Environment
As the vice principal walking out the principles of teaching the fruits of the Spirit and overcoming cultural challenges means consistently modeling these values in daily interactions. This involves demonstrating love, patience, kindness, and self-control when dealing with staff, students, and parents, especially in challenging situations. For instance, conflicts should be approached with calmness and empathy, using them as opportunities to mediate fairly and guide those involved toward reconciliation. Additionally, I can integrate character education into the school’s culture by organizing workshops and assemblies that focus on the fruits of the Spirit, using real-life examples to illustrate how these values lead to success. Chapel messages or reflections centered on these values can set a positive tone for the day and reinforce the importance of embodying them.

Providing support and encouragement is another key aspect. Offering mentorship to both students and teachers helps them develop and practice these values, while recognition programs can celebrate those who exemplify them. Addressing cultural challenges directly is also crucial. This can be done by facilitating open conversations with students about the difficulties they face in staying true to these values, particularly when the surrounding culture promotes opposing behaviors. Disciplinary moments should be used as teaching opportunities, guiding students to understand how qualities like self-control and kindness could have led to better outcomes.

Additionally, encouraging students to participate in community service projects allows them to practice love, kindness, and goodness in real-world settings. By consistently modeling these values, integrating them into the school’s culture, and addressing the challenges students face, we can effectively foster an environment rooted in the fruits of the Spirit.