A specialized adolescent program

Abstract

The purpose of this case study was to define clearly and to identify the programmatic elements that support positive adolescent decision-making for students at a private New England high school. Knowledge generated is expected to inform secondary school teachers and administrators with specific programmatic elements that support the development of strong ethical leaders. The overarching questions that guided this study were:1. How does structured social interaction among high school adolescents in a leadership program affect ethical decision-making? 2. How does a high school adolescent leadership program promote the development of strong ethical leaders? Participants of the study included both alumni and faculty moderators of the program examined. The data collection tools were alumni survey, alumni focus group, and faculty focus group with the alumni survey serving as the primary data collection tool. Before the focus groups were held, the researcher reviewed historical documents to assist in the understanding of the program examined. Review of these documents served to support focus groups and the stories that were revealed throughout the data analysis process. The findings revealed (1) meaningful relationships, positive social interactions, and the presence of a strong community as significant factors in the development of individuals as ethical leaders, (2) factors related to the retention of leadership and religiosity beyond graduation from high school, (3) transferability to both private and secular institutions, and (4) the emergence of community and servant leadership as the most influential factors in the development of adolescents that make decisions for the greater good and grow into strong ethical leaders. Furthermore, specific programmatic elements of community, servant leadership, and contemplation were identified as a framework for implementation in secondary schools.--Author's abstract