Northview Elementary School’s social worker, Becky Kirkpatrick, utilized her passion for gardening with a research based self-esteem program called The Self-Esteem Garden, to help a group of Northview Elementary children in the development of their self-esteem. This program had never been done before in Valparaiso Community Schools, so Mrs. Kirkpatrick piloted the program at Northview this year. It’s a year-long program based on the 12 premises that influence the development of positive self-esteem in children. Hammond & Deardorff (2003), authors of the program, state that from birth, we all progress along a continuum from dependency to autonomy. Ideally, we separate and individuate as we move toward autonomy. Children between the ages of 6 and 12 are usually at an interesting point on this continuum. They begin the process of separating from parents in a more active manner, but are still dependent on others during these developmental years. The program Mrs. Kirkpatrick used was written specifically for this time in life, a time when a balance must be sought between recognizing how significantly others affect one’s self-esteem, and how much responsibility one bears for the development on one’s own sense of well-being and self-worth.
So, at the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year teachers identified some students needing a “boost” in self-esteem. (Quite frankly, couldn’t we all use a little boost in self-esteem at one time or another in our lives?) The group consisted of students in grades 2-5 that willingly gave up a recess every week to be a part of this group. These students did not miss any curriculum time! The lessons they learned were based on 12 premises of healthy self-esteem which provide the underlying structure of The Self-Esteem Garden analogy. The program relates everything to a garden and each child completes an individual booklet throughout the session. In addition, Mrs. Kirkpatrick took the idea of the program one step further by having the students actually apply the premises they were learning as they actually worked in a garden outside the school yard. There were several garden patches that needed tending and Mr. Hershberger, principal at Northview, gave Mrs. Kirkpatrick’s group permission to work on those areas and apply what they were learning. For example, they learned that the garden is like self-esteem. Children must be aware of the existence of their own self-esteem and believe in their inherent worth in order to “grow” their self-esteem. Rain and storms are like thoughtful feedback and destructive criticism. In order to exist and grow in a reality-based environment, children must be able to accept feedback from others and from themselves. They need realistic, positive ways to cope with feedback that is hurtful or destructive.
As the year draws to a close, the group has a beautiful blooming garden for all to enjoy. They are extremely proud of their efforts and can forge ahead with the most important premise of being a “gardener” or caretaker of self-esteem. They have learned that they must take responsibility for maintaining their own self-esteem with the help of trusted others.