November 1, 2010

Accountability

Written by: Doug Herron, CITC PE Teacher, Bartlett High School

I can still remember my mother telling my principal and my teacher on the first day of school that it was ok for them to paddle me if necessary. Those were the “good ‘ol days”. Not so much, but it was the value that my parents instilled at an early age with me and my sister that if we did something wrong, we were expected to own up to it and we were also taught that there were always consequences for our actions.

Accountability was an important value in our family. It was an important value as we interacted with each other and with our friends and other acquaintances. There were expectations. We were also taught that to be accountable also meant to be responsible.

I spent many summers on rivers in Alaska. I had many opportunities to demonstrate my level of maturity or lack of when it came to cabin and boat responsibilities. My motivation was driven by the opportunities to hunt and to fish. I could type up a 10 page paper illustrating the times that I had the opportunity to own up to something and demonstrate my ability to accept full responsibility for my actions. I will share one short story.

I was 14 and had been learning how to drive. Our cabin was situated on a river, but had road access to a small village. I was trying to demonstrate to my father that I was very capable of driving to the village for supplies. One day, my father threw me the keys and sent me and my cousin to town for a few things. My first real opportunity to show that I could do it. Everything went great. I made it to town, I purchased what my father needed and began driving home. I was the coolest 14 year old around. So cool in fact, that I had to roll down the window so I could hang my elbow out like my father did when he drove. Driving with one hand. Now that’s cool!

I approached a guy on a three wheeler, it was one of our neighbors on the river. I made a pass and while I did, I calmly and in my coolest way possible, waved like driving for me was an old hat. What I failed to do was keep my eyes on the road. At that same moment, the road took a sharp right hand turn. I didn’t. I launched the truck airborne, all of the things I had purchased were flying out of the back and into the trees and I was buried up to the doors in mud. I immediately looked for answers (excuses) of why I wrecked my father’s truck. I had to be able to come up with a reason why it happened and it wasn’t my fault. It only took me a few moments to realize that I was going to have to take full responsibility for this one.

Needless to say, I explained what had happened. We found some folks to help pull us out and it wasn’t long after and I was asked to go to town again. Just one of the many examples of how growing up in Alaska as a kid in the bush provides you with many opportunities to learn the value of accountability.