Parents need to be “down-to-earth” in order to educate emotionally

stable children when facing a violent, intolerant, and aggressive

society.; one in which relativism runs rampant; where there is a lack of

empathy and compassion, and which promotes unhealthy values which

contradicts a healthy lifestyle.

I often hear questions from parents who, worried about this situation,

want to develop respectful and responsible citizens: How can I

discipline my children without affecting their self-esteem?

Simple! If we closely observe, we can see that one thing leads to

another. They are not opposites. Discipline and self-esteem go hand

in hand! Limits give security.

Effective discipline, without the sense of guilt that parents often feel, is

the extraordinary formula that helps youngsters become self-confident

and develop a healthy self-esteem. Children, by their nature, tend to

think they are the center of everything, that the world revolves around

them. This is why it is imperative that parents clearly see their children

as they truly are in order to maintain the proper balance in the

relationship. Parents must not allow them to control the relationship.

They must fulfill their obligations.

Parents cannot effectively discipline their children if they have lost their

“center of gravity”. How is this lost? By accepting certain fads that are

being implemented so that children do not lose their “self-esteem”.

For example:

For children to feel safe, parents assume full responsibility in fulfilling all

of their children’s requests, giving them what these ask for, and not

what they really need. This turns parents into their children's servants.

Parents assume responsibility for their child’s homework; carry their

book bags, control communication and relationships with peers and

teachers.

The modern social tendency defines good parenting as being involved

in everything. The working mother or father develops a certain feeling of

“guilt” because they feel that they are not present to adequately attend

the child, which leads to having the parent resolve all problems faced

by the child in order to avoid situations that might affect his/her self-

esteem.

A reality of our times is that adults are excessively involved in the

affairs of their children, and children excessively involved in the

affairs of adults! Adults are not children and, above all, children are

not adults! This is the great difference between our society and the

famous days of our grandparents.

The social factors of the past that nourished the moral character of our

youth have disintegrated due to the lack of structure and boundaries

that have ceased to be established for the well-being of our children.

Our children need to be children, play with their companions,

solve their own “problems”, and face their own youthful

challenges. They need parents to guide them and to be the first to

demonstrate respect for themselves and other adults.

Children need parents who will impose boundaries for their family

interactions, and who understand that the home is not a democracy;

there are hierarchies and in that hierarchy the parents are above the

children. This is an important point for the social development of

children and their relations in school and the community.

A child who does not respect adults does not pay attention.

A child who does not pay attention does not follow instructions.

A child who does not follow instructions does NOT learn.

So, parents who desire their children to be excellent students should

teach them respect towards adults, beginning with their mother and

father. Definitely children need lots and lots of love. Thus, it is essential

that they receive sincere love AND it is also crucial that they be duly

disciplined when necessary.

The concept of self-esteem has been distorted by the willingness to

give the child everything he/she desires in order to avoid a “tantrum.”

This is like someone who sees the trees, but misses the forest.

The more we permit our children to live experiences and to obtain

achievements, by their own effort, (including that of letting them make

mistakes), the more we will help them construct their self-esteem and

their moral intelligence. Developing moral intelligence is a major

determining factor in the formation of a respectful citizen, and adds

value to the society of which he/she will belong.

Violence, as well as self-control, is learned!

The earlier we begin to cultivate the moral capacity of children in a

conscious and planned manner, greater will be the successes in the

development of our society’s future leaders. In this way we would be

giving the foundation necessary for the formation of their character and

that they may grow thinking, believing, and acting morally.

Dr. R. Castrodad is a certified Master Facilitator for the Virtues Project

and has worked tirelessly to promote the integration of virtues into the

curriculum of schools all over the island.

How to Educate Socially and

Emotionally Stable Children

of Math, Science, and Technology

Issue 4, September, 2013

Radians School

By Dr. Raquel Castrodad, Ed.D.

Academic Director

History Class Students work on DioramasHistory Class Students work on Dioramas

A s part of their work in Social Studies, 6th grade students from

Prof. Xiomara Roman’s History class worked to develop a

diorama. Students collaborated in groups to plan,

create, and build a geographic scene that demonstrated their

understanding of habitat and geography. When students learn

the topic and are allowed the freedom to use this knowledge to create,

the student internalizes the concept in a deeper manner. At Radians

School, we believe that students should use their knowledge to create.

What is sad to note is that the pervasive educational tradition has

worked to eliminate the creative process so necessary for our young

people to grow and develop properly. As educators, it is our

responsibility to allow the student the freedom and the opportunity to

express this creativity by providing them with the necessary

environment that fosters this type of thinking. Among the healthy

benefits of this philosophy of education is that the student learns to love the educational process of which he is an active participant. Our

education professionals understand this point and the beneficiary of this

is the entire school community.

T he dictionary is an important tool in any classroom. It is

an vital book that is mostly forgotten. That is why the

third grades (both Ms. Rios and Ms. Perez’s groups) are

arduously working with this wonderful tool. In complete

alignment with the course curriculm for this level, one of the

important objectives is for the student not only to remember

that the dictionary serves as an instrument to find meanings of

words we may not know, but also it is an excellent way to

enrich our student’s vocabulary. This week the students will be

involved in various activities which are all connected with the use

of the dictionary.

First, students will visit the library where they will have a

short conference by the school librarían, Prof. M.C. Alvarez

about the different types of dictionaries and how these are used.

Students will learn to classify words and put them in

alphabetical order. By means of fun activities and games, Prof.

Soqui Perez will help them work directly with dictionaries, as

students learn about guide words and meanings. To conclude we

will have a Trivia Challenge activity where students from both

third grade groups can socialize and compete against each other

in a healthy and safe competition where they apply what they

have learned in class.

How NonHow Non--Traditional Education helps Traditional Education helps Students Learn About the Library and Dictionaries Students Learn About the Library and Dictionaries

High School NHS members serve the communityHigh School NHS members serve the community

T he National Honor Society, High School Zafiro Chapter dedicated the month of

August to the children. This being the case, this past Friday, August 30th, 2013, the members of the NHS shared several activities with our pre-school students focused on developing virtues, especially the virtues of empathy, friendship,

enthusiasm, courtesy, respect, and responsbility. Crafts, dramas, games , and songs were some of the activities carried out to help our young students understand the concepts.

By serving others, NHS members come to understand that they can make a difference in the lives of others, and enrich their own lives in the process. GREAT WORK NHS Zafiro Chapter!

The past few days, the 11th grade has been undertaking a

series of oral reports with the purpose of sharing

information, debating diverse points of views and, in this

manner, developing their critical thinking skills while

applying the perspective of ethics.

Taking as a starting point the three fundamental themes in the

novel: “El Sueño de América” by Esmeralda Santiago: 1)Domestic

Violence, 2)Migration, and 3)the Marines in Vieques. The students then carried out the following activities:

Symposium on domestic violence

Panel discussion on how and why the U.S. Marines arrive

at Vieques; the realities and the consequences

Debate surrounding the issue of migration

The importance of analysis and critical thinking skills in these types of activities underscore a crucial part of the

institution’s mission: to help develop integral human beings. It

was an extremely productive educational experience where

one could evidence not only the academic excellence of our

students, but their evident character development as well.

High School Spanish Literature

Students Undertake Debate Activity

Radians School students enjoying

their co-curricular activities

Photo at right. Bow and Arrow

group at their first meeting. Mr.

DelValle’s students are learning the

importance of safety and basic archery

skills before stepping out to practice

this versatile sport.

Photo above, Ms. Mercado’s crocheting

activity commences as students learn how

to do their first knitting project.

Above and at right, Ms. Colón’s Digital

Animation activity has students engaged in

the process of learning and creating.

Students enjoy this process immensely.

Pictured above are the members of the Scrapbooking Activity headed by our own dynam-

ic, Ms. Román. Students enjoy themselves outside as they motivate themselves and get their

creative juices flowing to start working on their scrapbooking projects.

At left, Parents share

with each other while

waiting for their

children, who are

participating in the co

-curricular activities

offered at Radians

School. Our caring

community creates

bonds of friendship.

Radians SchoolRadians SchoolRadians School of Math, Science, and Technology

Carr 735 Km 0.4

Cayey, Puerto Rico 00736

(787) 738-4822

www.radiansschool.org

The Intelligent Choice for

YOUR child’s Future Success!

The first and only school in

Puerto Rico recognized as a “National School of Character”

Right Photo,

Track and Field

girls pose with

their coach while

the guys are doing

laps in

preparation for

their practice

session!

Happy students

enjoying the educational

process!

Right Photo

Students run

in their Track

and Field

course as their

selected co-

curricular

activity!

A fun way to stay in shape

and “a healthy

body leads to

healthy mind!”